Early October rains add to kitchen market woes

Incessant rains across the country in early October have led to further increases in the prices of summer vegetables. Besides, eggs, potatoes and onions -- which were already in the spotlight -- saw further hikes, putting additional strain on people belonging to low- and middle-income brackets.

Long aubergines on Tuesday were being sold at Tk 100-120 per kg, while purple round aubergines (taal begun) were priced at Tk 140-150 per kg -- marking a Tk 20-30 per kg increase in a week and a Tk 40-50 per kg surge in the last two weeks.

Pointed gourds were at 80-90, bitter gourds at Tk 100-110, arum at Tk 100-120, cucumbers at Tk 80-90 per kg and okra at Tk 70-80 per kg. Green chillies were at Tk 240-280 per kg.

Azizul Hakim, a vegetable vendor at Rayer Bazar in the city, said prices had increased by Tk 20-25 per kg in wholesale markets in the last week. He said supply had also declined due to a limited number of wholesalers bringing in vegetables.

According to the vendor, early winter varieties of vegetables have been severely affected by the rain, potentially leading to a supply shortage.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), nearly 30,000 hectares of early winter vegetable fields and 12,000 hectares of potato lands have been severely damaged by the week-long rain in several districts.

Meanwhile, farm egg prices, which showed a downtrend between the last week of September and the beginning of October, started increasing again. A dozen eggs shot up to Tk 152-160 from Tk 140-150.

Egg producers cited a hike in day-old chick prices as well as a decline in production due to heavy rain as the reasons for the latest increase in egg prices.

Potato prices increased by Tk 5.0 per kg again, with white potatoes being sold at Tk 50-55 and red cardinals at Tk 60-65 per kg on that day.

Onion prices showed a Tk 10-20 per kg increase in a week, with local onions being sold at Tk 100-105 and imported Indian ones at Tk 80-90 per kg.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com