People complaining about high price of foods in Kabul markets

A number of residents of Kabul city by complaining of increasing price of foods in Kabul markets say no reduction has been seen in prices of foods in Kabul markets despite the dollar’s value against afghani has not increased.
Shopkeepers say the main reason for increasing the price of foods in markets is the increase in price of importing goods.
People say the food prices were at a peak as dollar value was high against afghani but now the dollar value is not that much high, still people do not see any significant changes in food prices.
But, Kabul municipality officials say a prices cap has been issued to prevent from overpricing of foods in Kabul markets.
A number of Afghan experts believe that the price cap issued by the Kabul municipality is not implementable as it is set without negotiations with traders and relevant officials. On the other hand, the move has been welcomed by Kabul residents saying such decisions can help keep the prices of foods stable.
Kabul municipality has issued e new price cap to somehow control the prices of the main food items in Kabul markets.
Residents of Kabul are calling on the municipality to seriously implement the price cap. After the IEA takeover, foreign currencies against afghani increased unprecedentedly, which has caused increasing prices of main food items in the country’s markets. Although the dollar value against afghani dropped, it seems that prices of commodities have not changed in the country.
Increasing prices of all commodities and continued poverty and unemployment in recent months in the country have created lots of challenges for the ordinary people of Afghanistan.
Currently, prices of all commodities have increased and created concerns among residents of Kabul city.
Meanwhile, shortage of food crisis in the world and fighting in Ukraine have put negative impacts on the prices of food items in world and Afghanistan markets. According to economic experts, last year Russia produced and delivered 38 metric tons of wheat, while Ukraine delivered 22 metric tons of wheat to the world markets, but now both exports and the production process of wheat are facing with challenges due to fighting in Ukraine.
On the other hand, Afghanistan wheat products have significantly decreased this year due to severe drought in the country. In addition, recent flash floods in some parts of the country have harmed agricultural fields in the country. Based on statistics, Afghanistan needs 7 million metric tons of wheat annually and has to import half of them from outside.
Saida Ahmadi