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The price of gold has increased by Rs 1, 100 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 217, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 216, 000 per tola on Friday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 2, 620 per tola today.

The Nepal Airlines Corporation is going to operate direct flights from the federal capital, Kathmandu to Guangzhou, China from Thursday.

The NAC is going to start Kathmandu-Guangzhou-Kathmandu flight service for the first time and all technical preparations for it have been completed, said Executive Chair of the Corporation, Yubaraj Adhikari.

The NAC has scheduled three flights every week. After starting the first flight on September 25, the second will take place on September 28. After that, there will be direct flights to Guangzhou every Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday.

The NAC has fixed one-way fare from Kathmandu to Guangzhou at Rs 30,000 and a return ticket at Rs 50,000.

Himalaya Airlines has also been operating regular flights on this route from Nepal while Chinese airline company China Southern is operating regular flights on the Guangzhou-Kathmandu route.

With Guangzhou added as the latest destination, Nepal's flag carrier will now have regular flights to 11 destinations in nine countries. Currently, the NAC has two narrow-body and two wide-body aircraft flying to Doha in Qatar, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong in China, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore in India, Bangkok in Thailand, Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Narita in Japan.

As Indian bananas enter Nepal unchecked, bananas worth billions of rupees produced by Nepali farmers are rotting in the fields. Farmers say the situation has worsened after the government reduced import taxes on Indian bananas and failed to enforce plant quarantine regulations at border customs points.

Nepali bananas typically reach markets between July and November. But this season, farmers complain they cannot sell their produce. “Instead of supporting local farmers, the government has slashed taxes on Indian bananas and ignored quarantine checks, causing our harvest to rot in the fields,” said Dipendra Tharu, president of the Banana Producers and Traders Association in Kailali. The association has demanded a ban on Indian banana imports until November, stricter quarantine procedures, and priority for Nepali bananas.

Tharu said a memorandum has already been submitted to Sudurpaschim Province Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah, urging a halt to banana imports through the Kailali and Kanchanpur customs offices.

Farmers warn of protests if the government does not intervene. “If Indian bananas are not stopped immediately, we will be forced to launch a phased protest,” said association chairperson Chaudhary. Meanwhile, farmer Kamal Rawat from Tikapur said bananas grown on seven bighas of land are rotting because wholesalers are unwilling to buy them at fair prices. “We’re being forced to sell bananas for Rs 10–15 a dozen, which doesn’t even cover production costs. We’re on the verge of collapse,” he said.

Tikapur bananas are usually supplied to markets in Dhangadhi, Mahendranagar, Nepalgunj, Surkhet, Dang, Butwal, and beyond. But this year, farmers like Rawat and Tekendra Dhami say buyers have vanished. “Last year, bananas sold for Rs 40–50 a dozen in the fields. This year they’re left to rot,” Dhami said. Farmers warn that if their demands are ignored by Sept 22, they will take to the streets.

Banana farmers across the country are preparing for a movement, saying their hard work and investment are being undermined by cheap Indian imports. The Nepal Banana Producers Federation Committee in Kathmandu has also issued a statement, demanding the government secure a market for Nepali bananas. Farmers from Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bardiya, Nawalparasi, and Chitwan have warned that unchecked imports are worsening the trade deficit and pushing local producers out of business.

Banana cultivation currently takes place in 69 districts of Nepal. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, 383,285 tons of bananas are produced annually on 23,404 hectares of land, worth around Rs 15bn. Of this, bananas worth over Rs 2bn are produced in Kailali alone, said Santosh Upadhyay, associate professor of agricultural economics at Sudurpaschim University.

Globally, India is the largest banana producer, cultivating 866,000 hectares and producing more than 30m metric tons annually—26 percent of the world’s total. China, Brazil, and Indonesia follow, while Nepal ranks 11th, with 23,000 hectares under banana cultivation.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Friday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 216, 000 per tola today.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 60 and is being traded at Rs 2, 580 per tola today.