Veg prices climb, vendors blame cold wave for low supply

Despite the cold wave subsiding, high prices remain frozen

Prices of several vegetables, including aubergine, cauliflower, cucumber, and papaya, have increased in Dhaka’s markets over the past week.

Traders said they have to purchase these vegetables at higher prices due to reduced supply compared to demand.

Prices of some items, including onion, green chilli, and bottle gourd, have fallen. However, although a new variety of tomato has entered the market, it is selling at the same price as last week.

Like tomatoes, there has been little change in the prices of fish, meat and eggs. Prices of several fish, including puti, tilapia, nola, and shrimp, have declined slightly.

This was the scene on Friday during visits to kitchen markets in Motijheel, Segunbagicha, and Jatrabari of the capital.

Traders said last week that vegetable supplies declined due to a cold wave affecting the northern districts of the country for several days, which increased the prices of several vegetables.

Despite the cold wave subsiding, its impact is not seen in the markets on Friday.

Being the weekly holiday, demand for vegetables is also higher on Fridays at markets in Shonir Akhra and Rayer Bazar. Sales are particularly high for items such as cucumber, carrot, tomato, and onion.

Large round aubergines, which sold at Tk 80 per kg last week, are priced at Tk 120 per kg on Friday.

Medium-sized round aubergines are selling at Tk 60 per kg, down from Tk 70 last week.

Local long aubergines continue to sell at Tk 40 per kg at Jatrabari kitchen market.

At Segunbagicha, each large cauliflower was selling at Tk 60 on Friday, up from Tk 50 last week.

Buyer Halima Akter said the price has increased as the cauliflower season is nearing its end.

At Shonir Akhra, local onions are selling at Tk 45 per kg, down from Tk 50 last week.

At the same market, peas are selling at Tk 100-110 per kg, unchanged from last week. Raw papaya remains at Tk 30 per kg, the same as last week.

Radish prices are unchanged at Tk 40 per kg. Depending on size, potatoes are selling at Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg.

Turnip, which rose to Tk 60 per kg last week, has fallen by Tk 20 and is selling at Tk 40 per kg at Segunbagicha kitchen market.

At this market, Naldanga hyacinth beans are priced at Tk 70 per kg, seeded hyacinth beans at Tk 50 per kg, and seedless hyacinth beans at Tk 40 per kg.

Last week, Naldanga hyacinth beans sold at Tk 80 per kg, seeded hyacinth beans at Tk 60 per kg, and seedless hyacinth beans at Tk 40 per kg.

Several varieties of tomato, both raw and ripe, are available in the market, selling at prices ranging from Tk 40 to Tk 80 per kg.

At Motijheel T&T market, bottle gourd is priced at Tk 60 each. Last week, medium and large bottle gourds sold at Tk 100 to Tk 120.

At Rayer Bazar Cox’s Bazar market, green chilli is selling at Tk 100 to Tk 110 per kg.

Meanwhile, at Segunbagicha, cabbage continues to sell at Tk 50 per piece, unchanged from last week.

Cucumber is priced at Tk 70 per kg, while carrot is selling at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg, the same as last week.

FISH PRICES FALL

Prices of several fish, including rohu, tilapia, puti, nola and poa, have fallen by Tk 20 to Tk 50 per kg.

At Shonir Akhra, medium-sized rohu is selling at Tk 260 per kg after a Tk 20 reduction.

Nola fish has dropped by Tk 50 to Tk 250 per kg, while large tilapia has fallen by Tk 20 to Tk 260 per kg. Small hybrid tilapia is priced at Tk 120 per kg.

Poa and puti fish are selling at Tk 300 per kg. Last week, poa fish sold at Tk 280 per kg and puti at Tk 350.

Meanwhile, pabda fish continues to sell at Tk 320 to Tk 350 per kg.

At this market, farmed pangas fish is priced at Tk 200 to Tk 220 per kg.

The price of eggs remains unchanged at Tk 120 per dozen.

At Shonir Akhra, broiler chicken is selling at Tk 160 per kg, while Sonali chicken is priced at Tk 260 to Tk 270 per kg.