Vegetable prices witness notable rise

Vegetable prices witnessed a notable rise in last few days as ongoing flood and heavy rain in some hubs disrupted supply chain.

Some areas of 16 districts in northern and north-eastern regions are witnessing flood amid rain and onrush of upstream water from India.

Costs of vegetables increased by Tk 10-30 a kg in last three days amid a supply crunch, said traders.

Green chilli prices hit Tk 120-150 a kg kg from Tk 80-90 a kg earlier, according to kitchen markets.

Green papaya, which was one of the cheapest vegetables in the year, was sold at Tk 55-65 a kg in different kitchen markets of the city on Tuesday.

Most of the seasonal vegetables, including pointed gourd, pumpkin, ridge, sponge gourds, summer brinjal and bitter gourd, showed a hike as they were selling at Tk 60-80 a kg on the day.

Stored tomato prices rose to Tk 120-130 a kg on the day which was Tk 80-100 a week back.

Leafy prices, however, remained same at Tk 10-25 per bunch based on varieties.

Belayet Hossain, a vegetable vendor at Rayer Bazar, said he bought tomato at Tk 500 per five kg on the day which was Tk 360-400 few days back.

Arman Ali, a Shyambazar-based trader, said supply of summer vegetables declined from the hubs like Sirajganj, Gaibandha, Bogura, Tangail, Manikganj, Jamalpur and other districts amid the ongoing flood in the districts.

Ali said prices of vegetables might continue the current trend for next few weeks following flood in many districts.

However, the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) recorded 6,500 hectares of veggie fields have been damaged by the ongoing flood in 16 districts so far.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan, said prices of veggies have increased to some extend in places following water-logging in some districts.

But our field reports show that there are a huge price gap between farm level and Dhaka city retail markets is much higher.

He said pointed gourd was selling at Tk 18-19 a kg at Ghior in Manikganj for the last three days when the produce was traded at Tk 36-38 a kg at the capital's Karwan Bazar wholesale.

The same produce was retailed at Tk 60 a kg in Shegunbagicha bazar on Tuesday.

He said a 80-120 per cent price gap still exists causing difficulties for limited income groups.

He said the government should introduce a mechanism so that this price gap could be minimised.

Sound marketing of farmers' produce should be ensured through introducing farmers' markets in the cities, he added.

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