Staff Reporter :
Recent rains across Bangladesh have had a sharp impact on vegetable prices in the markets. In Dhaka, no vegetables were available for less than Tk 70 per kg. Some were sold at Tk 80 per kg, Tk 100 per kg, with some even rising past Tk 100 per kg.
Onion prices have crossed the threshold of Tk 100 per kilogram (kg) due to what traders say is a shortage in the supply of local varieties and a decline in imports from neighboring India. Each kg of onion was selling for Tk 90 to 110 at different kitchen markets in the capital city on Wednesday, while prices of other daily necessities were also significantly higher. Domestic hybrid varieties of onions are being sold at rates of Tk 90-100 per kg, and Indian onions are being sold at Tk 90 per kg. In a week, it appears onion prices have jumped by Tk 10.
The price of green chilies has dipped slightly compared to last week but still hits eye-watering prices of Tk 240-280 per kg depending on quality. Such was the situation in the capital’s Mohakhali wet market and Niketan Bazar on Friday.
Vendors say the prices of all vegetables have jumped due to the continuous rains and flooding in different parts of the country affecting their production. Niketan Bazar trader Hannan Mia said, “Many of the vegetables we sell come from the north. Several days of rain have damaged the vegetable crop. That’s why the wholesale price is high, so retail prices are even higher.”
At the market, retailers were selling per kg of tomatoes at Tk 130-140, bitter gourd at Tk 80, green beans at Tk 120, spiny gourd at Tk 80-100, pointed gourd and okra at Tk 60-70, sponge gourd at Tk 60-80, green papaya at Tk 50-60, pumpkin at Tk 50-60 depending on the type, bottle gourd at Tk 60-120 depending on the type, cucumber at Tk 80, snake gourd at Tk 80, taro at Tk 80-90, taro stems at Tk 100, and eggplant at Tk 80-100.
Limes cost Tk 10 to Tk 40, coriander leaves Tk 350-400 per kg, and green bananas Tk 40 for a bunch of four. In the market, the price of red spinach is Tk 15 per bunch, bottle gourd leaves are Tk 40, radish greens are Tk 15, spinach is Tk 15-20, water spinach is Tk 10, and Basella spinach at Tk 30.
Imran Gazi, a vegetable seller at the Mohakhali wet market, said, “The supply of vegetables is low due to rain, so the price has gone up a bit. There’s nothing we can do. The price is higher at wholesale, so this is how we sell at the retail level.”
The price of potatoes has not dropped yet. Last week the price of the vegetable jumped from Tk 60 to Tk 70 per kg. Sellers had no justification for the jump in the price of the vegetable, which was sold at Tk 30-35 per kg last year.
Housewife Jharna Begum came to the Mohakhali wet market to purchase vegetables. “The traders are doing whatever they want. Whatever they tell you, the price of vegetables I bought yesterday for Tk 50 has gone up by Tk 10. It is unacceptable. We are struggling to raise our family.”