No eggs in market at ‘prices set by government’, no good news on potatoes, onions

The impact of the import duty cut on potatoes has yet to reach other parts of the country

The eggs and poultry are not available in the market at ‘reasonable prices’ set by the government for the products.

The prices have started to drop in the wholesale market after the government cut import duty on potatoes but its impact has yet to reach other parts of the country.

A trader also expressed his frustration saying he will not import more potatoes as he didn’t make any profit.

The customers are waiting for good news on onions as Bangladesh lowered import duties and many of the measures taken by India to discourage exports have been relaxed.

Although Indian onions with the new tariff have not yet hit the market, the price of local onions has slightly dropped in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar. However, the impact is yet to be felt in other parts of the city.

On Sunday, the Department of Livestock Services set new 'reasonable prices' for eggs, broilers, and golden chickens at production, wholesale and retail levels and asked authorities to implement them.

However, the customers could not buy eggs at this rate on Monday. Broiler chicken was sold at Tk 180 per kg beforehand, the price for Sonali chicken was also less than the 'fair price' set by the government.

The potato is being sold at Tk 50 per kg in retail and at Tk 45 to Tk 46 per kg in wholesale, down by Tk 2 per kg, in Karwan Bazar. However, the cooking staple was sold at Tk 60 per kg in the Tejkunipara market as before.

The wholesale price of onion currently stands at Tk 96 to Tk 105 per kg in Karwan Bazar, which is Tk 2 or 3 less per kg than the previous week. But the vegetable was being sold at Tk 120 per kg in Tejkunipara.

India decreased the import tax on onions to 20 percent from 40 percent which was imposed four months ago on Saturday. Along with this, the minimum export price of the product has also been withdrawn.

Earlier on Sept 6, the interim government reduced the potato import duty from 25 percent to 15 percent and turned down a 3 percent regulatory tax, along with the removal of a 5 percent regulatory duty on onion imports.

The traders said the drop is supposed to lower the import prices of the products but the import of onions has not been made yet at the new rate that can affect the market.

OUTLOOK OF EGG AND CHICKEN MARKETS

The livestock services department set at Tk 11.87 per egg at the retail level, Tk 269.64 per kg for golden chicken, and Tk 179.59 per kg for broiler chicken.

Mohammad Hanif Mia, general secretary of Tejgaon Egg Traders Bahumukhi Cooperative Society, however, said they are wholesaling at Tk 1,240 per 100 eggs, which means four eggs, or hali, cost Tk 50, but it is supposed to be retailed at Tk 48.

Eggs were sold at Tk 55 per hali in Karwan Bazar and Tejkunipara. A dozen eggs are currently retailing from Tk 160 to Tk 170 in the capital, varying by location, but the “just price” set by the government for a dozen is Tk 143.

Broiler chicken is available in Karwan Bazar at the price set by the livestock services department. The price of golden chicken is less than the “reasonable price.”

Broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 180 per kg while golden chicken at Tk 260 per kg at Karwan Bazar.

"We have been selling broilers at a lower price these days than the rates set by the government. And golden chicken is lower than the government's price,” said Md Dulal, a chicken shop worker in Karwan Bazar.

Sumon Howlader, the president of the Bangladesh Poultry Association, told bdnews24.com: "The production of eggs is costlier in the country due to the high prices of feed and chicks. Without controlling the production cost, it is not possible to reduce the price of eggs.”

IMPACT ON POTATOES IN WHOLESALE, NOT IN RETAIL LEVEL

Md Halim, a potato trader in Karwan Bazar, said: “The price of potato was Tk 49-50 per kg a week ago. It was Tk 46 to Tk 48 per kg on Friday which came down to Tk 45-46 on Sunday. The price is expected to drop further.”

Indian potatoes have arrived in the market. It is being sold at Tk 38 to Tk 39 per kg at wholesale level.

Trader Md Habib Mandal said, “We bought it at Tk 35 to Tk 37 per kg. More potatoes will arrive in the market and the retail price is expected to drop below Tk 40 per kg.”

The price of potatoes has slightly dropped at wholesale but it didn’t affect retail sales at all.

The experience of an importer, however, is not pleasant.

Nasirul Islam supplied Indian potatoes at a store in Karwan Bazar. He said, “We bought potatoes from India at Tk 35 per kg. The price of local potatoes has also dropped due to the tax cut. That’s why we are facing a loss of Tk 5 per kg in Indian potatoes. So there is a possibility to halt imports in time to come.”

Private employee Saifur Rahman lives with his family in Kalabagan Staff Quarter. He bought fewer potatoes than he needed, saying he would buy more once the prices fell.

"Everything would be manageable if market prices were lower. As it stands, the salary from my job barely covers our monthly family expenses due to the high cost of living."

WHEN WILL THE ONION PRICE DROP?

Indian onions have not arrived in Karwan Bazar yet after the withdrawal of the duty, said Md Rajib, a salesperson in the market.

He said, "The border was closed from Friday. The price of onions will drop once the fresh goods arrive after the reopening of the border [Monday].”

However, the price of the product has decreased by Tk 2-3 per kg over a gap of a week, he said.

The wholesale price of onion was Tk 96 per kg in Faridpur on Friday while it was sold at Tk 105 per kg in Pabna on that day. The same trend was seen in the market on Monday.

Onion is retailing at Tk 106 to Tk 110 in the market.

But Md Shah Alam, a trader at Mayer Doya Store in Tejkunipara, is selling potato at Tk 60 per kg and onion at Tk 120 per kg, claiming that he had bought the products at Tk 53 and Tk 107 per kg respectively from Karwan Bazar.