Green chilli prices hit Tk 200 per kg

Staff Reporter :
The price of green chilli more than doubled over the week, hitting Tk 200 per kilogram (kg), which was sold at Tk 100-110 just a week ago. The overheated prices of green chilli further increase the sufferings of the consumers as they are already exhausted coping with the increasing price of necessary daily commodities.

Traders said that the prices of green chilli went up due to the supply crunch because of the persisting offseason in many districts and the heat wave in different districts hampering the production.

If the rain is further delayed, things may deteriorate, and prices will go up further.

On Friday, chillies were sold at Tk150-160 per kg at the wholesale markets in Karwan Bazar, Rampura, Badda, Mirpur and Segunbagicha. The price varied between Tk190 and Tk210 in retail markets.

Mominur Rahman, a vegetable vendor at Lalbagh Bazar said that the green chilli prices increasing consistently in last 20 days and now hits Tk 200per Kg.

Every year the scarcity begins from the last week of June and it continues until October.But this year the shortage begins bit earlier. Key chilli producing districts like Panchagarh, Pabna, Rajshahi, Jhineidah, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Rajbari and Faridpur, experienced a drought which also hit crops and created a supply shortage of green chillis, he added.

Amin Hossain, a consumer buying green chillis at Palashi vegetable market, said that in last week, he bought green chillies for Tk 100 to Tk 110, but now he has to buy them for Tk 200 more.

The curry can be cooked but not other vegetables. But curry without green chillies is totally incompatible. So, we have no choice but to buy with a higher price, he added.

Chilli production in the country was a little over two lakh tonnes in 2021-2022. In FY 21 and FY20, its production was 1.58 lakh tonnes and 4.93 lakh tones respectively.