Khotang. The price of akbari chilli has reached an all-time high here. Akbari chillies are being sold at Rs 1,000 per kg at Diktel Bazaar, the district headquarters.
Diktel’s traders buy from the farmers of the village for Rs 700 to Rs 800 per kg and sell it to the customers for Rs 1,000. Although the price is expensive, consumers are buying Akbar because of its tasty and medicinal properties.
Indra Bahadur Shrestha of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality-4, Khale, said that akbar is selling 14-15 kg of chilli in a week.
“I have planted around 1,200 saplings of Akbari chilli this year. Now we have started producing 14-15 kg per week,” he said, adding, “The demand for Akbari chilli is good in the district. In the coming days, I am planning to further expand the cultivation of unseasonal Akbari chili. The diktel market consumes chillies and vegetables produced by the farmers of Khale, Buipa, Bamrang, Lafang, Solma, Nerpa and Dorpa. Limited farmers who cultivate commercial vegetables have also been earning good income.
The prices of all types of vegetables and fruits, including akbari chillies, have reached an all-time high in the district. Consumers have complained that the prices of vegetables and fruits have been high in the district due to people close to the leader taking the subsidy provided by the government for the farmers. At present, the price of cauliflower is Rs 150 per kg, kanya mushroom Rs 300 per kg, onion Rs 90 per kg, potato Rs 60 per kg, cabbage Rs 40 per kg and cowpea Rs 150 per kg.
Ganga Bahadur Bishwakarma, a leading farmer of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi Municipality-2, Solma, said that the price of vegetables will go up further until the real farmers have access to the government subsidy. The market has been flooded with vegetables and fruits brought from different districts of the Tarai after the price of fruits and vegetables produced in the district increased. The concerned authorities are silent when vegetables and fruits purchased from the Tarai at cheap prices are being sold openly without pesticide tests.
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