Prices of spices, garlic, onion, ginger up

Anisul Islam Noor :
The price of spices, garlic and ginger has increased in the city’s retail markets in view of increase of demand ahead of Eid-ul Azha. The price of garlic rose by 27 per cent within a month.
Usually the demand for garlic, ginger and onion rises ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Garlic price rose by Tk30 to Tk40 per kg despite import of 13,000 tonnes in last two months. The country’s annual demand for garlic is five lakh tonnes of which 3.92 lakh tonnes one produced locally, Commerce Ministry sources said.
Local demand for ginger is about three lakh tonnes of which 2.26 tonnes are produced. Over 11,000 tonnes ginger were imported in last two months but its impact in the markets is little, sources added.
Local annual demand for onion is 20 to 22 lakh tonnes. About 13 lakh tonnes are locally produced. Rest of the demand is met by import, Commerce Ministry sources added.
Of the spices, cumin was selling at Tk300 to Tk400 kg, cloves at Tk1300 to Tk1500 per kg, cardamom at Tk1100 to Tk1600, cinnamon at Tk 270 to Tk 320, black pepper at Tk1,000 to Tk1,200 and cassias leaf (tejpata) at Tk180 to Tk 220 per kg.
Atiqul Haque, General Secretary of Bangladesh Paikari Gorom Mosolla Byabosaie Samity said, the price of spice increased due to higher VAT.