MULTAN: With the rising cold weather, the sale of dry fruits has increased despite a remarkable rise in rates of these items, particularly the most demanding almonds, and peanut in wholesale and retail markets.
Dry fruits include dates, walnuts, cashews, almond, peanuts, pistachios and many more. Almond and peanut are the most favourite and their demand is higher.
According to a survey conducted by APP here on Monday, the peanut is available at the rate of Rs 160 per kilogram which was Rs 120 in the last season. It was also revealed that prices of pistachio have also increased from Rs 1100 per Kg to Rs 1400 per Kg and the old pistachio was being sold at Rs 1200 per kg this year.
It was noticed remarkable increase in price of almonds (kaghzi) thin shell which was being sold at Rs 700 per kg in the whole sale market against Rs 500 per kg in last season. Similarly, rate of high quality American almonds (Gree) without shell also registered an increase of about Rs 300 per kilogram which is available at Rs 1300 per kg, against the Rs 1000 in the last winter season.
Similarly, the prices of Chilghoza have also been increased to Rs 1600 per/Kg from Rs 1400 per kg, the black gram was available at Rs 140 per Kg, walnuts at Rs 300 to 400, while prices of apricot have been risen from Rs 550 to Rs 700 per kg, Cashew at Rs 1100 per kg and dry dates were available at Rs 160 in the wholesale market.
Buyers complained the high prices of dry-fruits were completely out of purchasing power of salaried class. "I just found low price of peanuts among other dry-fruits items, which also registered an increase of Rs 20 to 30 per Kg against last year", says Allah Ditta.
Another buyer Majid said the purchasing power was not allowed to low-income segment of the society to buy dry-fruits at high prices.
The buyers demanded the city district administration for fixing of dry-fruits rates due to available at multiple prices in open market. With the advent of winter season, they said the vendors were charged buyers with huge prices in absence of pricing mechanism.
Despite the high rates, the business of dry-fruits has been decreased, said Imran Burhan a trader of dry-fruit at roadside near Khooni Burj. "Now buying dry fruits is not possible for the common man, except peanuts because of their reasonable price," he added. He said that the sale of his shop was Rs 1000 to 15000 per day last year but now there was only Rs 2000 to 4000 per day which is very low in this business.
Another shopkeeper Qasim at Khooni Burj said that he was running the business of dry fruits from last 20 years.
He said that no doubt that prices of dry fruit has been increased but the dry fruit were available on high prices at wholesale market. He said that he had a minor margin of benefit from the business this year.
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