Vegetables up in price despite production booms

Sylhet Bureau :

Although the yield of winter vegetables exceeded the target, the prices did not decrease in Sylhet market. Vegetable prices were high all the time last year. Even at the beginning of the new year, the heat did not subside. Low income people are disoriented by the price of vegetables even in full season. As a result, many people have to go to the market and eat hard.
Traders say, this time they have to buy vegetables at a higher price from farmers.
Apart from this, the price of potato is not reduced and it is affecting other vegetables. Due to which the price of vegetables is not decreasing.
However, the market showed a different picture. From the wholesale market to the retail market, the price also increases with the change of hands. From one hand to another, the price increases by at least 20 to 30 taka per kg. And if you go from one market to another market and reach the consumer level, the price increases almost twice.
Meanwhile, the prices of some vegetables have already started to rise ahead of Ramadan. Tomatoes were sold at Tk 30 to Tk 35 in the wholesale market last week but this week the price has increased to Tk 37 to Tk 38 in the wholesale market. Traders say that the prices of some vegetables including tomatoes and carrots will increase as fasting approaches.
Potatoes were sold at Tk 34 to Tk 35 per kg in the Sobhanighat wholesale market of Sylhet city on Sunday (February 4) morning. Besides, green chillies are sold at 45 per kg, beans 35 to 40, cauliflower 20, cabbage 15, bitter gourd 40, brinjal 40, tomato 35, ganjar 25, puishak 20, turnip 30, radish 15, misty potato 40 taka.
At Bandar Bazar, one kilometer away from Sobhanighat, the price of green chillies was Tk 80 per kg. Besides, beans are sold at 60, cauliflower 40, cabbage 30 to 35, potato 40 to 45, tomato 50 to 60, carrot 40, bitter gourd 80, brinjal 70.
Besides, the picture of Rikabibazar, which is only one and a half kilometers away from Bandarbazar, is even worse. Vegetables are sold at more than double prices there.
At around 11 am on Sunday, it was seen that green chillies were being sold at Tk 100 per kg, bitter gourds at Tk 100 and carrots at Tk 60 per kg. Besides, beans are sold at 60 per kg, cauliflower 50, cabbage 35 to 40, potato 50, tomato 60, brinjal 60, radish 60 and gourd 80 per kg.
Apart from this market, itinerant vegetable vendors were seen selling vegetables at more than double prices in various streets and residential areas of Sylhet city.