DOHA: The government has fixed the prices of some popular fresh vegetables and fruits at the Central Market that are in high demand during Eid Al Adha.
The idea is to make sure that retailers do not take consumers for a ride and raise prices as demand for these items increase hugely during Eid festivities.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has also made sure that retailers have enough stocks of fruits and vegetables on all Eid days so that there are no shortages that could lead to price manipulations.
Tomatoes, cucumber, Saudi carrots, banana, Lebanese apple, African oranges, Egyptian pomegranates and Turkish grapes are among the items whose prices have been fixed.
Jordanian tomatoes are, for example, to be sold for QR3.50 per kg during Eid, while cucumber’s rate per kg has been fixed at QR4. The price of lettuce will be QR6 per kg. A kilogramme of Saudi carrots will cost QR3, whereas bananas are to be retailed for QR6 a kg.
A press statement issued by the Ministry said yesterday that the price fixing move comes in the wake of Eid Al Adha and the rates have been fixed in close coordination with the traders. This is the first time the Ministry is intervening in the Central Market’s retail business in such a way that prices of certain fruits and vegetables are being fixed for days on end during a festival.
Giving the price list the Ministry said it had fixed the per kg rate for African orange at QR4.50, while that of Egyptian pomegranate at QR7 a kg. Turkish grapes are to be sold for QR9 a kg whereas Lebanese apples are to be made available to people at between QR4 and 5 per kilogram.
According to the Ministry, these rates will appear in their daily bulletin as well (the Ministry issues a daily bulletin of retail prices of vegetables and fruits at the Central Market that vary on a day-to-day basis). Inspectors armed with judicial powers from the Ministry were involved in the price fixing decision and they will be on the prowl at the Central Market on all Eid days to make sure retailers do not breach the agreement.
According to the Ministry, its inspectors with judicial powers will also be on vigil at the central fish market and will make sure that retailers do not breach rules and regulations and indulge in price manipulations. The inspectors, in their recent campaigns, have caught several violations at the markets (fish and fruits and vegetables), the Ministry statement said. The Peninsula
