Vegetable and fruit prices have risen considerably, since the beginning of Ramadan with the shortage in local produce and difficulty in importing them, from countries like Syria and Jordan.
A wholesaler at Mawaleh Central Market for Vegetables and Fruits said because of the extreme summer conditions prevailing in the country, the local produce has been hit. "We generally procure from countries like Syria and Jordan to meet any shortfall. But with the trouble in Syria and shortage even in Jordan, the prices have gone up."
The weekly survey of major consumer commodities in the Governorate of Muscat, conducted by the National Centre for Statistics and Data (NCSD), also showed that foodstuff prices varied during the second week of Ramadan compared with average prices in the same period last month.
The survey showed that the prices of most fruits rose between 5.4 per cent to 37.3 per cent in the second week of Ramadan compared with the second week of last month. The prices of vegetables also rose with the exception of onions, garlic and potatoes, which decreased by 34.4 per cent, 21.4 per cent and 17.8 per cent respectively. In comparison to the same period of Ramadan last year, the prices of most vegetables rose between 2.3 per cent to 37.8 per cent.
Another wholesaler, who supplies to supermarkets, said that the prices of vegetables like eggplant, green chillies and cucumber have risen sharply over the weeks.
The survey also showed that fresh fish prices dropped in the second week of the holy month as compared to the second week of the last month except for Seabream and Longtail Tuna fish that rose by 12.3 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.
As for the prices of meat and poultry, the price of fresh Pakistani lamb increased by 3.3 per cent while fresh Pakistani beef decreased by 1.5 per cent. Other meat prices remained stable.
Price Meter
Eggplant RO1.8 - RO4.5 per carton
Tomato RO1.5 - RO3
Cucumber RO 1.5 - RO5
Green chilly RO2 - RO7
Banana (Salalah) RO1.5 - RO3
Mango (Pakistan) RO2.5 - RO3.5
Sweet melon 200bz - 400bz/kg
© Muscat Daily 2012
