Local dried fruit traders have been sourcing their stock from alternative markets by using the internet. According to importers, Vietnam, Australia and China are the latest source countries for dried fruits, tonnes of which are sold during the Tihar festival.

Dried fruits are given as gifts by sisters to their brothers. Devotees also offer them to Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, who has a day dedicated to her during the festival. Most dried fruits sold in the Kathmandu Valley are imported from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Indonesia, US, Brazil and the Middle East, traders said.

Devendra Bhakta Shrestha, president of the Wholesalers’ Association and secretary of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce, said importers were being attracted to China because of the high quality of the goods and reasonable prices. According to him, traders imported raisin and walnut in massive quantities from China this year. “These products used to be imported from India, but they often come mixed with substandard products, and this has made traders look for other sources,” Shrestha said. Likewise, Vietnam has emerged as a new source for cashew nuts. India fulfils most of Nepal’s cashew nut requirement.

Pawan Jajodiya, proprietor of Jajodiya Khadda Store, Gyaneshwor, said cashew nuts imported from Vietnam were in high demand mainly among sweets sellers. “As Vietnam sends mostly broken cashew nuts, they are not good for giving as gifts; and for this reason, there are few buyers among the general public,” he said. According to Jajodiya, traders have started to import almonds from Australia too. Previously, traders were importing almonds mainly from California, US.

Biki Rauniyar, proprietor of Biki Store at Makhan, one of the main retail markets in the Valley, said importers were now using the internet to look for better products and new suppliers. “Traders now search for products on the internet and place orders online,” Rauniyar said.

Meanwhile, prices of dried fruits have increased 8-23 percent from last year in the Valley. Cashew nuts have become dearer by Rs300 per kg, the sharpest price rise among dried fruits. The average retail price of cashew nuts stands at Rs1,700 per kg.

Prices of walnut, raisin, date, small cardamom, fox nut and rock candy have remained largely unchanged. The price of almond has gone down to Rs1,150 per kg from Rs1,300.