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Floods and landslides have blocked most of the roads connecting the capital, making it difficult for people to return home during Dashain. Despite these challenges, valley residents have been able to easily purchase goats, including Himalayan goats. The Food Management and Trading Company Limited (FMTC), Bagmati Province, is facilitating the distribution of these goats to consumers.

Nabin Chaulagain from Budhanilkantha was surprised to be able to buy a goat, as he has been purchasing from the company for the last 10 years. On Monday, he traveled 15 kilometers to the FMTC office to purchase one. “I’m happy the food company provides healthy goats and Himalayan goats for the festival every year,” he said.

Sudhir Sharma from New Baneshwar, who lives in Australia, returned home to celebrate Dashain after 11 years. On Monday, he purchased a goat priced at Rs 22,000 and expressed his happiness at being able to celebrate Dashain with his family. He appreciated the ease of purchasing the goat at a reasonable price. Similarly, Sundar Fuyal from Sundarijal bought 20 kilograms of goat meat, expressing his satisfaction with the quality.

The demand for goats and Himalayan goats in the valley is 1,700. FMTC Bagmati Province aims to bring 1,400 goats and 300 Himalayan goats for Dashain. By Monday, they had brought in 1,200 goats and Himalayan goats, with 300 goats and 50 Himalayan goats already sold. Assistant Departmental Manager Gyanu Thapa noted that consumer demand typically increases during Phoolpati, Saptami, and Ashtami, and they anticipate a rush of buyers.

“There’s a high demand for healthy goats and Himalayan goats, and consumers are satisfied without having to stand in long lines,” said Thapa. Veterinarians mark healthy goats with green-colored horns, and only these goats are sold to consumers.

Prices are slightly lower this year, with a reduction of Rs 10 per kilogram for goats and Rs 30 for Himalayan goats. “The relationship between demand and supply affects the selling price, but as a government-owned company, our focus is on serving consumers during the festival rather than making a profit,” said Thapa. She added that despite floods and landslides, they managed to transport the goats to Kathmandu after a challenging 10-day journey, ensuring the valley residents would have their supply in time for Ashtami and Nawami.

Taking advantage of the floods and landslides, traders around Gaighat have hiked the prices of vegetables. With roads blocked due to heavy rains and trucks unable to deliver fresh produce, traders have tripled the prices of vegetables compared to normal times.

Locals complain that traders are arbitrarily setting prices, even selling stale vegetables as fresh, despite regulatory agencies’ monitoring. Srijana Tamang, a resident of Gaighat, expressed frustration over the price inconsistencies, saying, “Vegetables are not cheap, and the price of the same vegetable varies from store to store.”

Consumers are further upset that despite the rising prices, authorities have shown little interest in controlling them. They also complain that traders are selling vegetables that have been in stock for several days due to the road damage caused by the floods and landslides.

Tomatoes, once sold at Rs 60 per kg, now cost Rs 200 per kg. Radishes have jumped from Rs 25 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, and mustard greens have reached Rs 160 per kg. Similarly, cauliflower now costs Rs 200 per kg, and cabbage Rs 150, according to vegetable vendor Kusheshwar Chaudhary.

The price of onions has surged from Rs 50 per kg on Sept 26 to Rs 140 per kg. Potatoes are now Rs 90 per kg, yardlong beans Rs 130 per kg, mushrooms Rs 280 per kg, pumpkins Rs 100 per kg, bitter gourds Rs 120 per kg, cucumbers Rs 150 per kg, brinjals Rs 70 per kg, and chayote Rs 40 per kg, all prices have tripled since Sept 28.

Lemons, which were previously Rs 20 for five pieces, are now Rs 15 per piece. “We don’t have any stock at home, and due to damaged roads, we’re forced to buy produce at higher prices, so we can’t sell it cheaply,” Chaudhary explained.

Another vendor, Tej Narayan Sah, echoed these concerns, stating that the higher purchase prices have inevitably led to increased selling prices. He mentioned that due to the rains, fewer vegetables are being supplied from outside districts, making it difficult to meet demand. Gaighat typically receives up to 200 tons of vegetables daily, but this has now dropped to only 50 tons.

Locals claim that although the local government, administration, and industry and commerce associations have set official vegetable prices, implementation has been ineffective, and traders’ monopolistic practices have increased.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 27. 39 points to close at 2, 663. 32 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 55 points to close at 480. 23 points.

A total of 10,330,502-unit shares of 300 companies were traded for Rs 4. 84 billion.

Meanwhile, Mid Solu Hydropower Limited (MSHL) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Eastern Hydropower Limited (EHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 50 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 49 trillion

Firms with foreign direct investment repatriated Rs 10.07bn in fiscal year 2023/24. This represents a decline of 27.23 percent compared to fiscal year 2021/22, when foreign investors repatriated Rs 13.84bn.

According to Foreign Investment in Nepal-2024, published by the Department of Industry (DoI), 86.7 percent of the dividend in 2023/24, or Rs 9.34bn, was repatriated by investors in the manufacturing sector. Twenty manufacturing industries with FDI repatriated dividends during the year. Likewise, foreign investors in eight energy sector companies took home Rs 367.6m.

The report states that the number of manufacturing industries repatriating dividends reached 43, up from 41 in the previous fiscal year. Since a lion's share of FDI in Nepal is in the manufacturing sector, it tops the list of sectors in terms of dividend repatriation.

Eight service sector industries and five tourism firms reported Rs 277.91m and Rs 55.45m in dividends in the review year. In 2022/23, ten service firms repatriated Rs 1.12bn, while six tourism firms sent back Rs 81.34m.

Firms in the infrastructure and mineral sectors did not make any dividend repatriations this year, according to the report. In 2022/23, one infrastructure firm had repatriated Rs 19.89m.

The report states that agricultural firms have repatriated dividends for the first time in three years. Rijal Tashi Industries, which has FDI from Bhutan, repatriated Rs 25m in 2023/24.

Dividend repatriation by investors in the IT sector fell significantly to Rs 9.3m in the current fiscal year.

In fiscal year 2022/23, investors in the manufacturing sector repatriated Rs 8.80bn, followed by the ICT sector, with Rs 3.67bn in dividends repatriated.

In FY 2021/22, foreign investors repatriated Rs 13.68bn in dividends. Manufacturing sector investors took back Rs 8.63bn that year, while those in the ICT sector repatriated Rs 4.80bn. During the year, 38 firms with foreign investment repatriated dividends, according to the report.

Dabur Nepal and Unilever are among the manufacturing companies that repatriated high dividends during fiscal year 2023/24. Asian Paints, Berger, and KNP Nerolac also repatriated significant dividends during the review year, according to an official from the DoI.

Likewise, firms sent abroad Rs 2.79bn in royalties in the first eight months of fiscal year 2023/24. According to the report, 115 manufacturing firms sent Rs 2.47bn, followed by tourism and energy-based firms, which sent Rs 129.97m and Rs 123.18m, respectively.