Chilli prices go through the roof upsetting commoners

Prices of green chilli have become exorbitant in Magura and Bogura districts within a couple of weeks, causing worry for the common consumers.

Our correspondent from Magura reports: Prices of green chilli have nearly gone beyond the reach of the common people in Magura district within a span of just two weeks, creating a situation where purchasers blame traders and traders blame growers.

On the other hand different, varied prices of the indispensible cooking ingredient in different markets have raised a question among the general customers.

Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Magura said they brought 315 hectares of land into chill cultivation in the district this season, with a production target of 1,190 tonnes.

NGO worker Shariful Islam of the Police Line area in Magura town said, "There is no shortage of green chilli in the market yet traders are selling the item at hiked prices. Monitoring in this regard is not satisfactory."

Murad Hossen, a book seller of the College Road area in Magura town, said, "I went to Notun

Bazar of the town to purchase chilli where it was being sold at Tk250 per kg. Instantly I returned to Puran Bazar and purchased chill at Tk140 per kg from there. Two days later, I saw chill to be sold in Eat Khola Bazar of the town at

Tk240 per kg while it was Tk 180 per kg in Katcha Bazar of Dhaka Road area. Traders are charging prices of chilli to their whims due to lack of monitoring."

Tilam Hossen, a chilli trader in Dhaka Road area, said one week ago they purchased chilli from growers at Tk60 per kg but now they are purchasing it at Tk200 each kg from wholesalers. The government authorities conduct monitoring only over traders while farmers should also come under surveillance, he added.

Shujit Mandal, a farmer of Tengakhali village under Magura sadar upazila, said, "This season I have brought my two bighas of land under chill cultivation. But recent rainfall has damaged my chilli field at least 40 per cent. There is no alternative but to hike chilli price to cover the loss."

DAE additional deputy director Bishnupada Shaha told the FE that recent rainfall had damaged chilli fields and losses will increase as it is still raining.

When contacted, Sajal Ahmed, assistant director of the Consumers Rights Protection Directorate, Magura, said, "Earlier chill prices varied from market to market. But now the market is under our control as monitoring is going on. We run monitoring mainly over traders. Growers will also be brought under surveillance."

A correspondent from Bogura reports: Chili prices have gone berserk in the district's markets within a range of just a fortnight as the spice item is now being sold at Tk220 kg there while it was available at Tk12 a kg only two or less than two weeks ago.

Traders involved in dealing with the item told the FE that the main reason behind the surge in prices of chilli was incessant rainfall in Bogura, one of the districts prominent for producing the spice.

They also blamed the notable decline in acreage under chili cultivation this year for the sudden price shock. On the other hand, the price surge has come as a big financial relief to the growers who had been selling the item suffering huge losses.

However, the situation remains dire due to crop damage caused by continuous rainfall. Farmers said many green chilli plants have rotted in the fields, unable to survive prolonged waterlogging.

The muddy conditions have also made it difficult to harvest on time, worsening the shortfall in supply.

Bogura, known as one of the major green chilli-producing districts in Bangladesh, has witnessed a significant drop in cultivation.

This year, chilli was planted on 45,156 bighas of land - about 3,400 bighas less than the target of 48,555 bighas set by the DAE. Much of the land was diverted to other crops, including maize.

In char areas along the Jamuna and Bangali riverbeds, maize and other crops have gradually replaced chilli farming, according to the DAE office.

In some parts of Sariakandi upazila, green chilli cultivation has declined by 5.0 per cent to 12 per cent. The crisis began in mid-June when the market saw a glut of supply.

Now, with many fields going under water and yields getting devastated, the market is facing an acute shortage of the key cooking item.

Major chilli-producing upazilas in the district include Sariakandi, Shahjahanpur, Sonatala, Dhunat, Sherpur, Nandigram, Shibganj, and Sadar. Cultivation is also expanding in Kahaloo, Dupchanchia, and Adamdighi upazilas.

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