March 22: The shortage of dried peas in the market has been increasing after the government banned the import of peas since March 29, 2020 to prevent Nepali currency from going abroad during the coronavirus crisis. Ever since the ban was imposed, the importers have not been able to import dried peas. This has resulted in a shortage of peas in the market although the government has taken corrective measures of late.

Om Prakash Mor, manager of Shakti Pulse Mill, Birgunj, said that there is shortage of white peas in the market. “We tried to import peas from India. However, we could not import from India which further escalated the shortage,” he said. After the government's decision in March last year, import of peas into Nepal has been completed halted.

Later, the government allowed the import of peas stuck at the check-posts. The same peas were  available in the market until some time ago. However, now that the stock of the peas has run out, there is a shortage again.

As soon as the meeting of Council of Ministers on March 9 lifted the one-year ban on the import of pepper, betel nut and dates and peas on March 9, and imposed a quote system, traders are now gearing up to import peas. However, Mor says that there will be shortage of peas in the domestic market for the next three months as the import process from abroad will be lengthy.

As the domestic production of peas is not sufficient to meet the local demand, Nepali importers have been importing peas from countries like Canada, Russia, New Zealand, Australia and Ukraine. In the last fiscal year, about 150,000 tons of peas were imported to Nepal. This year, the government has set a quota to import 80,000 tons of peas.

Due to the increasing shortage of peas in the market, the price has skyrocketed. According to the Retail Trade Association, the price of green peas, which was Rs 120 per kg a month ago, has gone up by Rs 40 to Rs 160 per kg.

Likewise, white peas that used to cost Rs 70 per kg a month ago is now Rs 150 per kg, up by Rs 80. The president of the association, Rajkumar Shrestha blames the shortage for the increment of price.

He further informed that many small traders have stopped selling peas due to the high price.