Green chillies price jumps by Tk 220 to Tk 280 per kg
Staff Reporter :
Following the decision of traders to suspend import green chillies from India, the price of green chillies in the market is suddenly on the rise again. The price of green chillies has increased by Tk 220 to Tk 280 per kg overnight, according to the customers who bought chllies on Wednesday.
On Wednesday morning, it was seen to be selling 250 grams of green chillies at Tk 120 in various markets of the capital. As a result, the price of one kg of green chilli reach Tk 480 in the retail markets.
But on Monday and Tuesday, the green chillies were sold at Tk 200 to Tk 260 per kg due to the supply of imported chillies in the market. During the Eid-ul-Azha period, chillies were sold at Tk 600 to Tk1,200 per kg in various markets across the country.
Considering the situation, the Department of Agriculture Extension under the Ministry of Agriculture has given permits of importing around 36,830 metric tonnes of green chillies from
the Indian market. The decision of importing chillies from India was taken to relieve the people’s suffering for the rush off chillies.
Besides, the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) conducted raids in different markets across the country including Dhaka and other divisional headquarters. Due to which the price of the product started decreasing from Monday and was sold at Tk150 to Tk 240 in the markets
Amid this situation, the importers and traders stopped importing chillies after only bringing around 300 metric tonnes from India. They claimed that the price of chillies is increasing in India and they will have to count loss if they imports with the current market price of India. But, the importers and traders have started importing chillies from Wednesday again and around 90 tons imported through Benapole Port
According to different media reports from India and Bangladesh, green chillies were sold at Tk 300 to Tk 400 per kg in the markets of West Bengal in India on Wednesday.
In this context of the increase in the price of green chillies, the DNCRP on Wednesday raided in 40 markets across the country. Apart from green chillies, the campaign also monitors the prices of other commodities.
Meanwhile, the authority has fined 95 traders Tk 3,35,500 due to price manipulation of the products, not displaying the price list and lack of vouchers.
On Wednesday, the DNCRP said that an operation was conducted in all departments and districts of the country including Dhaka metropolis to monitor the prices of green chili and sugar and the prices of daily necessities including stocks. Meanwhile, three teams conducted operations in Dhaka. Besides, this campaign was conducted simultaneously in 37 districts including other divisional cities.
The selling and purchasing prices of pepper were verified in Karwan Bazar, Kanthal Bagan Kitchen Bazar, Tejkunipara Kitchen Bazar, Jatrabari Kitchen Bazar, Dayaganj Kitchen Bazar, Dhalpur Kitchen Bazar, Demra Kitchen Bazar, Shanir Akhra Kitchen Bazar and Motijheel AGB Colony Kitchen Bazar area of Dhaka city.
A trader from Mirpur-01 kitchen market, Azizur Rahman told The New Nation, “On Tuesday, I sold 250 grams of green chillies at Tk 60 to Tk 70. If I knew the price would increase, I would not have sold it on Tuesday. I could make double the profit on Wednesday.”
He said, “Kitchen market has no guardian. A product is sold at one price in the morning and another in the afternoon. On Wednesday caravans have to be bought from the wholesale market at higher prices. So I am selling at a higher price. We have no profit. Instead, I brought two sacks on Tuesday and today I brought only one sack as the price increased.”
When asked about the reason for the increase in prices, Anisur Rahman Sumon, a trader in the five-story market in Madhya Badda, said in the same tone as the trader in Rampura Bazar. He said that the chilli market was on fire. On Tuesday I brought one palla (5 kg) of green chillies for Tk 1,100. On Wednesday I brought the same at Tk 2,300. Now tell me, what should I do?”
He said, “I heard that green chilli is being imported from India. The price dropped by half on this news, it went up again today, I can’t tell what is happening in the market.”
Fuad Hossain Tito, a businessman of Karwan Bazar, said, “There is a shortage of green chilli in the market. Due to heavy rains and floods, there is less supply of green chilli in the market. So the price is extra. He said, the amount of green chilli that we expected to come from India also did not come. All in all, the import of green chilli is less than the demand in the market, so the price is higher.”
Even with sufficient import, inadequate supply to local markets led to a price hike of green chillies to Tk 400 per kilogram in Satkhira on Wednesday, our correspondent reports.
The wholesale price is around Tk 350 to Tk 360, which was Tk150 to Tk 200 just two days ago.
Some 207 metric tonnes of Indian green chillies were imported through the Bhomra port in recent days.
After the Eid holidays, the land port’s activities resumed on July 2 with an import of 70 tonnes in seven trucks. On 3 July, 68 metric tonnes were imported in eight trucks and on 4 July, 69 metric tonnes were imported in seven trucks.
In Satkhira’s Sultanganj Bazar, the supply of green chilli decreased. It is being sold at Tk 360 to Tk 400 per kg in the local market.
Regarding the sufficient import but low supply, Abdur Rahim Babu, the general secretary of the local market traders’ association said the importers do not supply goods to the market from the port.
