July 15, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1428

KARACHI, July 14: The supply of vegetables in the wholesale market from various parts of the country, which had nosedived 15 days back because of heavy rains and poor condition of roads, has now partially improved, thus there is a decline in prices of onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, etc.

However, rates of vegetables, like bitter gourd, lady finger, ridge gourd, white gourd, cucumber, green chillies, etc., have either increased further or have not shown a major decline since these items mainly arrive from Sindh where floods have played a havoc in many growing areas.

Besides, these items are not kept in the cold storages for longer durations, like potato and onion, so there is an increase in their prices.

Currently these items are coming from Punjab from the new crop, so there is some stability in rates, otherwise, prices would have gone much higher, sources said.

Trucks arriving from Balochistan and Sindh are still taking too much time due to pathetic condition of roads caused by heavy floods and rains. However, transporters are somehow managing to bring the commodities at higher rates.

A market survey revealed that onion prices, which had climbed to Rs20 per kg on July 2, have now dropped to Rs12 following resumption in supplies from Balochistan.

Although the wholesale price of onion ranges between Rs6 and 7 per kg as compared with its peak level of Rs16 per kg, the retailers are not ready to further reduce prices to the benefit of consumers. However, they are quick enough in pushing up rates when wholesale prices go up.

Tomato prices have fallen to Rs25 to 30 per kg depending upon its quality from Rs45 per kg on July 1. Its price had soured to Rs100 per kg in the last week of June. Supply of tomato from Balochistan, which had come to a standstill in the last week of June, has now improved. Its wholesale price is now tagged at Rs20 as compared to Rs70-80 per kg in the vegetable market in the last week of June.

The green chillies (small) which had reached Rs120 per kg from Rs20 to 30 per kg, is now available at Rs60 to 70 per kg in the Subzimandi at the wholesale.

These items are now coming from Punjab and transporters are charging higher transportation costs after rains.

Lady finger is now selling at Rs40 per kg as compared to Rs50 per kg on July 1. Lady finger at wholesale has returned to Rs20 to 25 per kg from Rs40 per kg.

There was no relief in the price of ridge gourd which rose to Rs40 from Rs30 to 35 per kg. White gourd rate has declined to Rs30 from Rs35 per kg.

Cucumber has shown no change at Rs35 to 40 per kg. Bitter gourd has also shown no resilience, staying at Rs40 per kg.

The rates of ginger and garlic, which are mainly imported or are produced in Pakistan in a very little quantity, have come down to Rs45 to 50 per kg after touching their peak level of Rs60 per kg.

The rates of these items had increased in line with other vegetables as a sentimental impact of the price-hike.

The wholesale rates of these items hover between Rs25 to 35 per kg.

President, Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, Haji Shahjehan, said that the arrival of trucks loaded with vegetables and fruits from the upcountry has shown some improvement, and 400 to 500 trucks are arriving daily as compared with 100 to 150 trucks in the last week of June when rains had lashed the country. It cannot be termed satisfactory as figure of arriving trucks should range between 800 and 1,000 per day, he said.

He said after heavy rains, export of onions has come to a standstill as its quality has deteriorated. He said potato rates in the Subzimandi have come down to Rs9 per kg from Rs9 to 10 per kg, but retailers are still charging the July 1 rate of Rs15.