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Prices of seasonal vegetables have witnessed fresh hikes in the past three days after remaining comparatively cheaper for one and a half months, further intensifying the sufferings of the commoners, according to market sources.
Bottle gourd (lau in Bangla), a veggie grown around the year, was sold at Tk70-100 a piece on Sunday in the city's Rayerbazar, Plassey, Segunbagicha and Shantinagar kitchen markets---Tk 20-30 a piece hike in a week.
Green chilli price shot up to Tk 140-160 a kg---Tk 30-40 a kg further hike, according to the vendors.
Tomato prices shot up to Tk55-Tk 65 a kg, brinjal to Tk60-Tk 70 a kg, cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli to Tk40-Tk 50 a piece, pumpkin to Tk40-45 a kg, local carrot and cucumber to Tk 50-60 a kg---registering Tk 15-20 a kg or piece hike.
All leafy vegetables also witnessed Tk3.0-Tk5.0 hike per bunch, according to the vendors in the mentioned markets.
Prices of papaya, radish and turnip remained static at previous rates as those were vendored at Tk40-50 a kg in the retail markets.
Off season bitter gourd was retailing at Tk 100-140 a kg, snake gourd and okra at Tk 60-80 a kg, colocasia stem at Tk 70-90 a kg and long-yard bean Tk 80-100 a kg.
Value chain expert Prof Dr Md Moniruzzaman told the FE that the prices of winter crops seems to have increased too early as those normally remain cheaper until February.
Dr Moniruzzaman said the first reason for such hike might be a decline in production.
He said farmers in the northern and north-western regions are solely dedicating their lands for rice and maize from the last Aman season amid rocketing costs of farming as well as concern of foodgrain shortage.
The trend might have continued in this Boro season, he said.
Assistant director of the Department of Agricultural Marketing Abdul Mannan told the FE that there is a huge price gap between the farm level and city retailers which is further adding to the woes of the consumers.
He said brinjal price showed a slight hike---by Tk 3.0-4.0 a kg in Narshingdi and Bogura, but the vegetable was trading at Tk 25-28 a kg in the districts' farm level.
The same crop is being traded at Tk 38-42 a kg at Shyambazar and Karwan Bazar while their retail prices are above Tk60 a kg.
He said a bottle gourd was selling at Tk 22-30 a piece in Manikganj which is being traded at Tk 45-60 at Karwan Bazar and Tk 70-100 at the retail markets.
According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), it had targeted to grow 13.4 million tonnes of vegetable on 0.62 million hectares of land this Rabi season (Mid-October to Mid-March).
The target might be missed by 35,000 to 40,000 hectares this winter as many farmers switched to maize instead of vegetables.