Doha - Vegetables and fruits have become 25 to 30 per cent costlier since the onset of Ramadan and retailers say since supplies are stable, increasing demand might have led to the price rise.
Retailers hope prices will stabilise after the first week of Ramadan since by then importers would have had a fair idea of the added demand during the fasting month.
This is not the first time vegetables and fruits have become expensive at the beginning of Ramadan. It happens every year and the prices gradually stabilise as days pass by, say retailers.
Some retail outlets say their sales increase by about 30 per cent during the fasting month, while the demand at hypermarkets shoot up considerably as people tend to buy in bulk.
The price rise (retail) in the case of koosa (a cucumber-like vegetable which is chopped and cooked and which is a hot favorite with Qatari households), capsicum and cucumber has been dramatic.
The price of capsicum has risen to QR7 per kg from QR4, while that of koosa to QR8 from QR5. Cucumber is selling at QR8, up from QR5 a kg before Ramadan.
Besides basic vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes and onions, the demand for cucumber, koosa and capsicum goes up substantially during the fasting month, retailers say.
Beans and lady fingers are also selling at much higher rates although the demand for them is high almost round the year. Even ginger, garlic and lemon (which is mostly imported from Africa) have become dearer.
Qatar has some local vegetable production beginning from early December onwards, so vegetables are imported from various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India. Lettuce, which has also become expensive, is mostly imported from Egypt.
Fruits have also become expensive and they include apples, oranges, papaya, banana and pineapple, among others.
There is a sudden surge in the prices of papaya and pineapples, most of which are imported from the Philippines.
Another major import from there is banana, which has become only marginally dearer.
Apple is mainly imported from Chile and is selling at QR7 a kg in retail, up only a riyal since the beginning of Ramadan.
The same is true of oranges, mainly imported from Africa, besides Lebanon, which exports the sweeter and smaller version of the citrus fruit.
African oranges are dearer only by QR1, selling at QR5 a kg in retail.
Basmati rice, lentils dearer
Indian basmati rice and lentils have become costlier in the local market with retailers attributing the price rise to international trends. A five-kg bag of 'Punjab Garden', a popular brand of Indian basmati, is selling at between QR28 and QR29. The rate was QR20 to QR22 until recently. A 40kg bag of this basmati brand was available at QR135 earlier, but now the rate has soared to QR210. Retailers said the prices of lentils and white flour had doubled in recent weeks. Bread and 'Sadia' chicken have also become more expensive.
Retail vegetables and fruit prices in Doha on Saturday
Items Current rate Rate before per kg Ramadan
Vegetables
Potatoes QR 5 QR 4
Onions QR 4 QR 3
Lady Fingers QR 10 QR 7
Tomatoes QR 4 QR 3
Koosa QR 8 QR 5
Ginger QR 5 QR 4
Garlic QR 5 QR 4
Cucumber QR 8 QR 5
Capsicum QR 7 QR 4
Corriander Leaves QR 4 (Small bundle) QR 3
Lettuce QR 6/piece QR 4
Beans QR 10 QR 5
Fruits
Apple (Imported from Chile) QR 7 QR 6
African Orange QR 5 QR 4
Papaya (Imported from
Philippines) QR 8 QR 5
Pineapple (Philippines) QR 8 QR 4
Banana QR 5 QR 4
© The Peninsula 2007
