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Having enjoyed a period of cost-effective shopping, consumers are now dealing with soaring vegetable prices while chicken offers some comfort with its reduced cost.
Traders say many poultry farmers are selling off their stock fearing that the intense heat may lead to the death of chickens, leading to the price dip.
The same weather conditions have also been blamed for the surge in vegetable prices, as sellers cite low rainfall causing a slowdown in production, reports bdnews24.com.
Despite fluctuations in chicken and vegetable prices, the cost of onions and soyabean oil has remained steady this week—although both saw hikes after Eid.
A visit to Dhaha’s Mohakhali, Saattola and Niketan kitchen markets on Friday, a public holiday, revealed the contrasting trend.
Most vegetables on sale were priced above Tk 60 per kg, with several items crossing Tk 100.
Only a handful were available at comparatively lower rates.
In the summer vegetable category, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, sponge gourd, aubergine and ridge gourd were selling for Tk 70 to 80 per kg. Okra was slightly lower at Tk 60.
A few seasonal vegetables were being sold for well over Tk 100.
Yardlong beans cost between Tk 100 to 110, teasel gourd Tk 110 to 120, taro stolon Tk 80 to 100, and Moringa drumsticks Tk 130 to 140 per kg.
Jasim Uddin, a vendor at Niketan kitchen market, told bdnews24.com: “Supply of summer vegetables is low. This year’s poor rainfall has affected production.
“Prices are already high in the wholesale markets, so we have to sell at higher rates.”
Some winter vegetables were still on offer but at elevated prices compared with the season.
Flat beans were priced at Tk 60 to 80 per kg, radish at Tk 60, turnip at Tk 60, while cauliflower varied by size from Tk 40 to 60 each.
Bottle gourd sold for Tk 50 to 100 and ash gourd Tk 50 to 60.
Only a few items could be found under Tk 60. Green bananas were Tk 40 per four-piece bunch, papaya Tk 50 per kg, and sweet pumpkin Tk 40 to 50.
Lemon prices, which remained high after Eid, have dropped to Tk 10 to 20 per four-piece pack.
Coriander leaves sold for Tk 120 to 140, while capsicum was priced between Tk 150 to 180 per kg.
Raw mangoes were also being sold across the markets. Many use them to add flavour to dishes with small fish and lentils. They were available at Tk 50 to 60 per kg.
Green chilli remained stable over the week, selling for Tk 60 to 80 per kg. Among the lingering winter items, tomatoes were priced relatively lower at Tk 40 to 50 per kg.
Carrots cost Tk 50, while cucumbers were priced at Tk 70–80.
Gopal Chandra Shil, a shopper at Saattola market, said: “I work at a salon. These prices are becoming hard to handle.
“The last couple of months were manageable, but now everything is expensive again.”
Md Shahjalal, a private sector employee shopping at the same market, expressed similar frustration. “Prices went up after Eid. If they could be controlled earlier, why not now? Otherwise, it’s going to stretch our wallets,” he said.
Despite the price hikes in vegetables, leafy greens were being sold at regular rates. Red amaranth was Tk 15 to 20 per bunch, bottle gourd leaves Tk 40, spinach Tk 15, water spinach Tk 10, Malabar spinach Tk 40 to 50, Indian spinach Tk 10, and jute leaves Tk 30 per bunch.
CHICKEN PRICES DROP ACROSS MARKETS
Within a week, the price of all types of chicken has decreased in the market.
Rajib Hossain, a seller at Rajib-Mukta Poultry Shop in the Sattola market, confirmed the price changes to bdnews24.com.
According to his details, the price of Sonali chicken has dropped by Tk 20 per kg compared to last week, now selling for Tk 260, while the Sonali Hybrid breed is being sold for Tk 240 per kg.
Red Layer chicken is available at Tk 270 per kg and White Layer chicken is priced between Tk 250 and Tk 260.
Broiler chicken has also seen a decline, with prices dropping by Tk 10 per kg, ranging from Tk 170 to Tk 180, while Deshi (local) chicken is now priced between Tk 630 and Tk 680 per kg, down by Tk 40 to Tk 50.
When asked about the price drop, Rajib said: "The intense heat over the past few days has created concerns about chickens dying, especially broilers. As a result, the prices have come down slightly."
SPICE PRICES REMAIN UNCHANGED
Most spice products in the market are being sold at their previous prices. The onion market, which spiked unexpectedly last week, has also stabilised at its earlier price.
Al Amin, a vendor at the Mohakhali Kitchen market, confirmed this to bdnews24.com.
According to him, potatoes from Bogura are being sold for Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg.
Domestic hybrid onions remain priced at Tk 60 per kg while Indian onions are being sold at Tk 50 per kg.
In addition, ginger is being sold for Tk 140 to Tk 280 per kg, domestic garlic for Tk 90 to Tk 100, Indian garlic for Tk 220 to Tk 230, locally produced Mosur Dal (red lentils) at Tk 140, hybrid (large grain) lentils at Tk 110, Mung dal at Tk 180, and chickpeas at Tk 100 to Tk 110 per kg.
The vendor said, “We heard news of raids in the onion market, with concerns that prices might rise further, particularly in wholesale markets in Faridpur and other areas. The prices, however, have now stabilised.
“In addition, the prices of other spice products have not fluctuated much, and the supply of bottled soyabean oil has returned to normal after the price hike,” he added.