Marginal consumers worst sufferers amid supply shortage

Prices of almost all the vegetables have soared in local kitchen markets in Rangpur and Sylhet in the past ten days, causing immense trouble to the consumers. Low and middle-income groups among the people are particularly the worst sufferers of the price rise.

Our Rangpur Correspondent reports, abnormal upward trend of vegetables has added to the woes of the people, leaving them in untold sufferings.

Supply of vegetables is scanty in wholesale markets due to rainfall which recently affected vegetables fields in different areas under the district, resulting in less production, the traders said.

However, blaming the traders, customers said that some dishonest traders always try to take advantage of the circumstances and are liable for the price escalation.

According to sources in Rangpur city Bazar, at present, per kg eggplant is being sold at Tk 70-80 against Tk 30-40 from 10 days ago; okra is being sold at Tk 60 a kg while it was Tk 30; per kg bitter gourd is selling at Tk 80-90 against Tk 30 - 40; long bean(barbati) is being sold at Tk 80-110 a kg while it was Tk 40 - 50.

Teasel gourd is being sold at Tk 60-70 per kg which was Tk 40; per kg pointed gourd is sold at Tk 50 to 60, which was Tk 20 to 30; taro arum is being sold at Tk 40-50 per kg, which was

Tk 30; a piece of bottle gourd is selling at Tk 50 -70 while its price 10 days ago was Tk 30-40; per kg snake gourd is sold at Tk 60; while it was Tk 30-40; a kg ridge gourd is selling at Tk 70 to 80 which was Tk 30 to 40.

In addition, prices of green chilli, onion and ginger have also marked a sharp rise in local kitchen markets. Green chilli is being sold at Tk 200 to 220 per kg, which was Tk 80-100.

On the other hand, locally produced onion is selling at Tk 75-80 per kg, which was Tk 35-40 10 days ago, a kg ginger is selling at Tk 180-220 which was Tk 100-120.

Meanwhile, price spiral of egg has also put huge pressure on the lower as well as middle-income people who have to depend on eggs to meet the demand for protein as it is difficult for them to purchase meat or fish on regular basis.

Currently, grocers are selling eggs for Tk 138-144 per dozen which was Tk 114-120.

Our Correspondent from Sylhet reports, the low income and middle class people in Sylhet have been in much hardship due to the unstable market situation caused by poor supply for weeks together. The sellers claimed that poor supply against higher demand had made the market unstable at least for the last one month.

However, the business leaders suggest regular market monitoring alongside increase of production of various items, including vegetables and others for a stable market in the locality.

Meanwhile, common buyers allege that the sellers, especially the wholesale ones take advantage of any minor crisis for manipulating the markets.

"The government officials and city corporation officials must intervene in the markets when required," said Mujibur Rahman, employee of a private firm at the Sylhet city's Subidbazar area.

Vendor Manik Hossain at Ambarkhana said, "As the Sylhet market is mainly dependent on vegetables from other regions, the prices go up in any crisis."

In the past ten days, the prices of vegetables have increased slightly in Sylhet. Green chili was selling at Tk 300 to 400 per kg on Sunday while okra at Tk 100, lady's finger at taka 80 and brinjal at Tk 100. However, potato sells at Tk 30 per kg and egg sells Tk 145 to 150 per dozen.

Nurul Islam, a private firm employee of Golapganj upazila, who manages his living costs with much hardship, lives at a rented home at Airport road area in the city. "Buying fish or meat has almost become impossible while managing vegetables is even very hard now a days," he added.

On the other hand, the wholesale vegetable market at the city's Sobhanighat controls a syndicate to set prices for vegetables in the morning every day, some retailers claimed.

The excess rains for days, weeks ago had already hit the Sylhet markets badly. A number of sellers like Dulal Mia of the city's Subidbazar said there has been a short supply of goods at the kitchen market as well as the grocery items while transport costs had also gone up.

Business leaders like Hijkil Gulzar, ex director of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce & Industries (SCCI), said,

"We need to raise production of the farm products locally and monitor the markets regularly for keeping the market stable, ensuring regular supply of items, etc. Otherwise, it's hard to have a stable market here," he added.

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