Due to limited supply of locally produced vegetables, the prices of most varieties of vegetables have considerably increased at Al Sailiya Central Market.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that shoppers there noted that the prices of most varieties of vegetables have increased in particular tomatoes, capsicum and leafy vegetables. Consumers noted that there are very little locally produced vegetables on display at the market due to the hot weather conditions and the end of the agriculture season. Further, all the fruits at the market are imported from different world countries. The recently seen prices include QR18- 24 for a box of tomatoes according its quality, a box of eggplants QR17- 21 and a box of zucchini amounts to QR33.
Ahmed Youssef, shopper, stressed that the prices are higher than it used to be a couple of weeks ago because of the hot weather and limited supply of local agriculture products. He noted that some types of leafy vegetables are not as fresh as they should be.
Mohamed al-Nuaimi, frequent shopper at the market, pointed out that the hike in some prices is perfectly normal and justifiable at this time of the year as most of the products at the market are imported and the local agriculture season has already been concluded. However, he noted that prices at the central market are very competitive when compared by other retailers'.
In the meantime, the first batches of locally produced fresh dates have started to hit the folk market, located inside Al Sailiya Central Market, with prices ranging between QR15-70 a kilo. In addition, the market have considerably good amounts of Omani fresh dates with retail prices ranging from QR30-40 a kilo.
Some salesmen at the market explained that the prices of most varieties of the locally produced dates are still very high as the season is at its very start and only a small number of Qatari farms have limited quantities ripe dates to supply to the market. They also expect that by the end of this month, larger amounts of these dates will come to the market and would certainly stabilise the prices and get them down.
However, the sellers at the markets stressed that there is a very strong demand among Qataris on the local dates even though the prices are still considered very high, as many considered it a highly favoured delicacy. Furthers, seller would be willing to give considerable discounts on the purchases of big amounts.
