Wet spell ‘wilts supply’, inflates vegetable prices in Dhaka markets

A prolonged spell of rain has disrupted vegetable supplies in Dhaka’s kitchen markets, driving up prices across a wide range of everyday produce.

From early morning on Friday, the rain showed no signs of stopping.

Yet, Shah Alam, a vegetable vendor from Moghbazar’s Mirbagh, stood by his pushcart soaked, selling bottle gourd, pointed gourd, snake gourd, cucumber and green chillies.

Asked about the rising prices, he said: “Due to the rain, supply has thinned considerably, and our procurement costs have soared.

“This leaves us no choice but to increase selling prices.”

He added that vegetable prices have surged by Tk 10 to 20 per kg over the past week.

Similar trends were noted during visits to the Saat Tola and Mohakhali kitchen markets, where traders unanimously pointed to the continuous rain as the primary reason behind the rising costs of nearly all vegetables.

Market observations show that brinjal and long beans were being sold at Tk 80 per kg on -- an increase of Tk 20 per kg over the week, depending on variety.

Pointed gourd (Potol), which was priced between Tk 40 and 50 last week, was selling at Tk 60 per kg this week.

Zucchini (Dhandul) sold for Tk 50, snake gourd (Chichinga) for Tk 60, taro stems (Kochur Loti) rose from Tk 70 to Tk 80, bitter gourd (Korola) rose by Tk 10-20 to Tk 80, and taro (Kochu) was sold for Tk 50-60.

Ridge gourd (Jhinga) sold for Tk 60, green chillies ranged in price from Tk 200-240, and papaya sold for Tk 25-30 per kg.

Bottle gourd (Lau) was priced at Tk 50-60 per piece, tomatoes saw a Tk 20 price hike to Tk 120 per kg, carrots were sold for Tk 120-140 per kg, domestic cucumbers for Tk 80-100 per kg, and hybrid cucumbers at Tk 60 per kg.

Md Joynal, a vegetable trader at Saat Tola market, said: “Vegetables spoil in many places when there is persistent rain. The supply in the market goes down a bit. That is why the price rises.

Limes sold at Tk 20-40 for four depending on their size, coriander leaves (Dhonepata) were priced at Tk 300 per kg, green bananas sold for Tk 30 for four pieces, white gourd (Chalkumra) at Tk 50 per piece, spiny gourd (Kakrol) at Tk 80, and pumpkins at Tk 30 per kg.

The price of red amaranthus (Lal Shak) was Tk 15 per bunch, bottle gourd greens (Lau Shak) was Tk 40-50 per bunch, water spinach (Kolmi Shak) was Tk 20 per bunch, Malabar spinach (Pui Shak) was Tk 30 per bunch, and stem spinach (Data Shak) was Tk 15 per bunch.

CHICKEN PRICES ARE HIGH TOO

The prices of chicken have also gone up in the past week, but beef and mutton are being sold at the same prices.

Golden cock chickens are Tk 10-20 costlier, rising to Tk 320-330 per kg, while golden hybrid chickens are selling for Tk 300.

Red layer chickens rose by Tk 10 in price to Tk 290, while white layer chickens sold at Tk 280. Broiler chicken prices remained the same at Tk 160, while the price of domestic chicken stood at Tk 650-680 on average.

Rajib Hossain, a trader at the Rajib Free Poultry store in Saat Tola market, said: “The price of golden and red layer chickens has gone up a bit. The price may fall again in a day or two. Chicken prices tend to go up and down.”

But the price of beef has remained the same at Tk 780-800 per kg, with cow livers selling at Tk 800, cow head meat at Tk 450, diced beef at Tk 400, and mutton at Tk 1,200 per kg.

A dozen red eggs are selling for Tk 140 in the markets, with duck eggs at Tk 220. Four eggs from domestic chickens are selling for Tk 90.

ONION PRICES RISE, SPICES UNCHANGED

In a week, the price of onions has gone up by Tk 10 to Tk 70 per kg. The price of spices has remained largely the same.

Potatoes are selling for Tk 20-25 per kg, ginger for Tk 160-200, domestic garlic for Tk 130, Indian garlic for Tk 180, red lentils (Moshur Dal) for Tk 140, green lentils (Moog Dal) for Tk 180, chickpeas for Tk 110, and grass pea (Khesharir Dal) for Tk 130.

The price of Miniket rice ranges from Tk 82-92 per kg, Nazirshail ranges from Tk 84-90, Shorna is at Tk 55, while BRRI-28 is Tk 65.