By Our Correspondent

Chitwan, Dec. 16 The price of vegetables has skyrocketed in Chitwan owing to a reduction in vegetable production this year.
The number of vegetables farmer has declined this year after they failed to get reasonable price for their vegetables last year, and this resulted in the increase of the vegetable prices this year.
Last year, the farmers ploughed their vegetable field when they did not get reasonable price for their vegetables.
According to Meghnath Pokharel, chairman of Sakambari Fresh Vegetable and Fruits Producer’s Cooperatives, the price of vegetables has increased noticeably owing to the reduction in the vegetable production in the district.
“The numbers of farmers growing cauliflowers and cabbages decreased this year. Very few farmers are growing cauliflower and cabbage this year. We are happy that they are getting good price,” he said.
Daily at least 10 quintals of vegetables are supplied in the market through the cooperative located at Bharatpur Metropolitan City -20.
“The price of vegetables is fluctuating significantly. Mostly, price of vegetables will go down next year when more framers will engage in vegetable farming seeing the profit other farmers made this year,” he said.
Farmers are selling cauliflower at Rs. 80 per kilogram from filed this year while they sold cauliflower at Rs. 10 per kilogram last year.
Vegetable farmer of Shivaghat, Bharatpur Metropolitan City-16 Hari Bahadur Thapa said that the farmers were happy after getting good price for their vegetables.
“We are selling a kilogram of radish at Rs. 40 from the field while we were compelled to plough the radish farm after being unable to sell it at Rs. 2 per kilogram last year,” he said.
According to him, he ploughed his cauliflower and radish farm last year due to cheaper rate but now he was happy to get good price of vegetables.
Meghnath Timalsina, chief of Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project Implementation Unit, Chitwan, said the production of vegetables has decreased due to rainfall, and this also led to price rise of vegetables this year.
The farmers turned into other vegetables production after they failed to get reasonable price last year, he said, adding that this situation supported the farmers to get good price of vegetables.
According to statistic of Fruits and Vegetables Entrepreneurs’ Association, around 150 tonnes of vegetable is required for the Chitwan market daily.
Out of total requirement, the Chitwan district contributes for 100 tonnes, 25 tonnes supplied from neighbouring districts and 25 tonnes are imported from Indian market, said Thir Prasad Dhital, chairman of association.
The retail price of per kilogram of cauliflower is up to Rs. 120, cabbage of Rs. 60 to Rs. 70, tomatoes Rs. 70 to Rs. 80, onion Rs. 200, pumpkin Rs. 60-Rs.70 and better gourd Rs. 100 to Rs. 120.