Rain and flooding 'push up prices' of three common grocery items

Buyers say traders are using the weather as an excuse to drive up prices

The prices of at least three common grocery items have gone up at Dhaka's wet markets in the past week, with vendors citing days of continuous rain and flooding in different parts of the country as the cause.

However, some buyers say traders are using the weather as an excuse to drive up their prices.

On Friday, a visit to Mohammadpur Town Hall Wet Market, Mohammadpur Krishi Market and Karwan Bazar showed some changes to the prices of vegetables.

NGO worker Mohammad Osman was returning from a visit to the wet market at Mohammadpur Town Hall this morning.

"They are asking for more money. We can’t afford it. Our incomes don’t go up every week," he told bdnews24.

Saying he had to cut back on his spending, Osman said: "I didn’t buy cucumbers. I bought green chillies. We’ll get by with eggs and potatoes for a few days."

Abdul Gani buys vegetables from the Mirpur wholesale market and sells them on the road in front of Mohammadpur Krishi Market.

He says, "Green chillies, cucumbers, and coriander leaves—the prices of these three have gone up at the wholesale level."

“The price of green chillies (5kg) is Tk 500-550. Last week it was Tk 250-300. Cucumbers are selling for Tk 60-80 per kg. I bought coriander leaves from the wholesale market at Tk 150-160 per kg. Last Sunday, I bought them at Tk 90.”

Abdul Gani says he did not buy cucumbers because of the steep price. However, as there is high demand for green chillies and coriander leaves, he has bought them in small quantities and is selling them from his cart. He is also selling green bananas, pointed gourd, aubergine and limes.

He said, “I am selling green chillies at Tk 200 per kg at retail. The price of coriander leaves is also the same.

“Still, the prices of other vegetables have remained the same at wholesale. I am buying a bunch of four green bananas for Tk 25 and selling them for Tk 40. Aubergine is available at Tk 80 per kg and pointed gourd at Tk 60; despite the rain, the wholesale prices of these have not increased.”

Asked about the reason for the price increases, Karwan Bazar shopkeeper Ishaq Molla said: “These goods cannot be stored. They start rotting when the water gets in. They have to be brought in and sold every day.

“Due to the floods, there has been a shortage of these goods in stock for the past few days. That’s why prices have gone up. I am selling local cucumbers for Tk 80 per kg and hybrids for Tk 50. Retailers will sell them for Tk 20-30.”

A visit to these three markers in Dhaka showed that traders are charging Tk 10-15 per kg more at retail, citing the heavy rain.

On Friday, bitter gourd was being sold for Tk 60-80 per kg, okra for Tk 50 to 60 per kg, pointed gourd at Tk 60-80 per kg, yardlong beans at Tk 60 to 80 per kg, and snake gourd at Tk 60 per kg.

Depending on the variety and quality, brinjal was selling for Tk 80-120 per kg, an average of Tk 20 more than last week. However, wholesalers claim that they did not hike these prices.

Drumstick seedpods (Sajne) sold for Tk 160-200 per kg, while sponge gourd was Tk 60 per kg. However, like last week, papaya was at Tk 30 per kg and sweet pumpkin at Tk 40 per kg.

Cart vendors were selling them for Tk 10 to 15 per kg less.

Jane Alam, a retailer at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, told bdnews24.com, "The price of everything has gone up due to the rain. We are also suffering because of this. Everything is Tk 10 to 20 costlier per kg."

Like the wholesalers, he also cited “reduced supply, vehicles stranded by rain and floods, and rotting of products” for the hiked prices.

The prices of eggs, potatoes, and onions have remained steady in the past week. Potatoes sold for Tk 25-30 and local onions for Tk 40.

Red farm eggs were selling for Tk 130 for the dozen, while white eggs sold for Tk 120.

The meat and fish market remained much the same as last week. Broiler chicken is sold for Tk 165 per kg, Sonali chicken for Tk 330, and Sonali hybrid chicken for Tk 300 per kg. Beef was going for Tk 780-800 per kg.

In the fish market, Poa sold for Tk 350-400, Pabda for Tk 400-450, Tilapia and Pangas for Tk 200, and farmed koi for Tk 200-220 per kg.