Ease in rice, distress in chick, vegetables
Noman Mosharef :
The decline of rice price in the capital’s kitchen market as well as across the country is bringing relief for the people from lower income group while the soaring prices of chicken and vegetables are making discomfort to maintain their daily life.
Within a week, rice prices have dropped by Tk2-5 per kg at the mill and wholesale levels. The retail market is yet to reflect the change, but prices are expected to fall further as more Boro paddy enters the market, traders said.
In the capital’s wholesale markets, BRRI-28 rice is selling at Tk58-60 per kg, GutiShorna at Tk53-54, and Paijam at Tk55-57. A week ago, these varieties were selling for Tk3-4 more. Miniket rice, depending on quality, is now selling at Tk80-82 per kg, down from Tk88-90 earlier.
Rice prices have been on the rise since last October and have not dropped even after the Aman harvest, but Boro may change that.
Mohammad Shawon, a rice trader at Karwan Bazar, said that with the arrival of Boro rice, mill gate prices have come down. Over the past few days, fine rice prices have dropped by Tk8-10 per kg. Prices will fall further once Boro rice enters the market in full swing.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers have cultivated Boro paddy on 50.46 lakh hectares this year. The harvest was completed on 12.13 lakh hectares, yielding 53.16 lakh tonnes of paddy. The total Boro season rice production may reach 2.26 crore tonnes nationwide.
Farhad Hossain Chakdar, general secretary of the rice mill owners’ association in Naogaon-the country’s largest rice trading hub-said that prices of Zirashail and Kataribhog rice have dropped by Tk8-10 per kg, while coarse rice has fallen by Tk2-3 per kg. We are now buying paddy from farmers at Tk1,300-1,400 per maund.
Moreover, the prices of vegetables and chicken have witnessed a Tk10-20 increase per kg in a week at the kitchen markets in Dhaka.
The prices of almost all types of vegetables have increased by Tk10-20 per kg at the retail level in the capital within a week.
Traders said the prices are rising due to reduced supply in the market as the season of winter vegetables has ended.
Besides, onions are also being sold at higher prices.
Visiting the Shahjadpur, Notun Bazar, Badda, Hatirpull, Newmarket, and Palashi kitchen markets on Friday , it was observed that most vegetables are priced between Tk60-80 per kg.
These include pointed gourd (potol), okra, ridge gourd (jhinga), snake gourd (chichinga), and luffa (dhundol).
Meanwhile, bitter gourd (korolla) and yardlong bean (borboti) were sold at Tk80-100 per kg this morning. Spiny gourd (kankrol) is being sold at Tk120-140 per kg.
Furthermore, wax gourd (chalkumra) and bottle gourd (lau) are being sold at Tk40-60, papaya at Tk60-70, potatoes at Tk20-25, and green chillies at Tk80-90 per kg.
“Vegetable production reduces during this season. That’s why the prices are higher than before. We are buying from the wholesale market at higher prices,” said Md Jalal Uddin, a seller in Shahjadpur.
Meanwhile, onions were sold at Tk55-60 per kg at the retail level this morning, although the price was Tk35-40 even during Ramadan.
Joynal Abedin, a resident of Khilbarirtek, said, “Although prices were lower during Ramadan, now everything is becoming more expensive. There is no shortage of anything in the market. But they say there is a supply crisis as soon as something happens.”
“Why should the price of onions increase now? This is the onion season,” he added.
In a week, broiler and Sonali chicken prices have increased by Tk10-20 per kg. Broiler chicken is now sold at Tk180-190 per kg and Sonali chicken at Tk270-290 per kg.
Eggs were sold at Tk125-130 per dozen this morning, while the price of beef is Tk750-780 per kg, and mutton is Tk1,000-1,150 per kg.