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Sugar Prices Jump to Rs.140 a Kilo in Nepal

A grocery store filled with lots of food
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
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The price of sugar in Nepal has jumped sharply to Rs.140 per kilogram. This sudden rise has become bad news for many households just as the festival season begins. Sugar demand usually increases during festivals because people use it in sweets and special dishes.

The high price has also created difficulties for tea drinkers. Sugar is a common ingredient in tea across Nepal, and the price increase means daily tea has become more costly for ordinary families. Many people feel the pinch of rising prices in their everyday lives.

Reports suggest this situation could become harder to manage if prices continue to stay at this level. People are struggling to understand exactly what caused such a steep jump in sugar costs recently.

With local supplies under pressure, many in Nepal are now looking toward India for possible relief. India is one of the world's largest sugar producers, and increased exports or supply from India could help stabilize prices in Nepal. For now, though, sugar remains costly, and consumers are hoping that prices will come down soon, especially as festival celebrations continue and demand for sugar-based foods and drinks remains high across the country.

Vocabulary7 words

bad news
information that makes people unhappy
ingredient
one part used to make food or drink
stay
to remain the same
India
a large country near Nepal
exports
goods sent to another country to sell
consumers
people who buy and use products
stabilize
to make something steady and not changing

Quiz

1. What is the new price of sugar per kilogram in Nepal?
2. Why does sugar demand usually rise during this time?
3. Which country might help solve Nepal's sugar problem?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

The price of sugar in Nepal has jumped sharply to Rs.140 per _____. This sudden rise has become bad news for many households just as the festival _____ begins.

The high price has also created difficulties for tea drinkers. Sugar is a common _____ in tea across Nepal, and the price increase means daily tea has become more _____ for ordinary families.

Reports suggest this situation could become harder to _____ if prices continue to stay at this level. People are struggling to understand exactly what caused such a steep _____ in sugar costs recently.

With local supplies under pressure, many in Nepal are now looking toward _____ for possible relief. India is one of the world's largest sugar _____, and increased exports or supply from India could help stabilize prices in Nepal.

Discussion questions

  1. Why might sugar prices rise so quickly before a festival season?
  2. How does the price of a basic item like sugar affect daily life?
  3. Do you think one country's supply can really help solve another country's price problem? Why or why not?
  4. What other everyday products would be badly affected by sudden price rises?

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