Kitchen Budget Under Pressure: Veg prices still high, most above Tk100 per kg

Staff Reporter :

Vegetable prices have been on an upward trend in the market for the past three weeks. Prices remain out of the consumers’ purchase power, with most vegetables being sold at over Tk 100 per kilogram.

On Friday, visits to kitchen markets in Jurain, Dayagonj, Jatrabari, Motijheel, Hatirpool, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Rampura, and Badda in the capital revealed that weekend shoppers expressed anger over soaring vegetable prices.

At Jurain kitchen market, shopper Fahmida Ahmed said, “Almost every shops here the brinjals are still selling at Tk 200 per kg. How can eggplant be this expensive? Pointed gourd that used to cost Tk 50 a kg all year has doubled in price.”

She asked, “If prices remain this high, how will low-income people eat?” Fahmida and other shoppers’ complaint the same and their findings were proved true while surveying the market. Good quality round eggplants were selling for Tk 180-220 per kg, long eggplants for Tk 140-160, and white eggplants for Tk 100-120. Other vegetables were also selling at higher prices. Pointed gourd (potol) was Tk 80-100 per kg, teasel gourd (kakrol) Tk 100, yardlong beans Tk 100-120, ridge gourd Tk 80-100, and bitter gourd Tk 80-120.

Tomatoes were being sold at Tk 160-180, cucumbers at Tk 80-100, and carrots at Tk 140-180. Bottle gourd cost Tk 80-120 apiece, and wax gourd Tk 80-100.

Papaya was the cheapest vegetable, but its price had risen by Tk 10 per kg in recent weeks to Tk 40. New beans (shim) have arrived in the market, but at very high prices – Tk 240-280 per kg.
Akkas Mia, a vegetable trader in Hatirpoolbazar, complained, “Supplies have dropped to half compared to other times. This season generally has lower supply anyway. On top of that, we have to pay tolls at every stage. That pushes prices up.”

Another trader, Abul Hossain, said, “Supply will increase from mid-next month. Then prices may come down a bit. Until then, vegetables will sell at these higher rates.”

The rising cost of vegetables has also been matched by higher prices of leafy greens. A bunch of water spinach, spinach, or helencha that earlier cost Tk 10 is now Tk 15-20. Bottle gourd and pumpkin leaves are being sold at Tk 50-70 a bunch, which earlier cost Tk 30-40.

Green chili remains expensive too, selling at Tk 200-250 per kg. However, onion prices have eased slightly, now Tk 65-70 per kg. Garlic is being sold at Tk 120-180 per kg. Lentils have also become pricier: large-grain lentils Tk 140 per kg, and small-grain lentils Tk 160 per kg.

Chicken, beef, mutton, and eggs remain at previous prices. Broiler chicken is Tk 170-180 per kg, Sonali chicken Tk 300-320, and local chicken Tk 580-650 depending on the market. A dozen brown eggs are selling at Tk 150, and white eggs at Tk 140. Beef is Tk 750-800 per kg, and mutton Tk 900-1,100 per kg.

Like meat, fish prices have also not eased. Hilsa remains at high prices: over 1 kg size Tk 2,500-2,800 per kg, 1 kg size Tk 2,300-2,500, under 1 kg Tk 1,600-1,800, and smaller hilsa Tk 800-1,200 per kg. Giant freshwater prawns (galda) are Tk 1,200-1,500 per kg depending on size, while bagda prawns are Tk 800-1,000. Rui fish is Tk 300-350 per kg, catla Tk 350-400, kalibaush Tk 320-380, and tilapia Tk 220-260.

Market insiders said that unless vegetable prices fall, the market will not stabilize. Eggs, chicken, and fish are also still being sold at higher prices. They warned that if prices do not come down, food inflation will rise further next month.