Summer vegetable gets cheaper, chicken price holds steady at Dhaka markets

Vegetable prices in Dhaka’s kitchen markets have dropped by Tk 10 to Tk 50 per kg over the past week, while chicken prices remained unchanged.

Eggs, however, continued to sell at high rates, with a dozen costing between Tk 135 and Tk 140, reports bdnews24.com.

A visit to the capital’s Mohakhali and Saat Tola kitchen markets on Friday revealed that almost all varieties of vegetables were available in ample quantities.

Among summer vegetables, eggplant, bitter gourd, and okra were selling for Tk 50 to 60 per kg. Yardlong beans, previously Tk 100 to 120 per kg, dropped to Tk 60-80.

Pointed gourd was available for Tk 40 to 50, sponge gourd at Tk 50, snake gourd at Tk 50, taro stolons at Tk 70 to 80, taro root at Tk 90 to 100, drumsticks at Tk 100 to 120, and ridge gourd at Tk 60.

Renu Begum, a vegetable seller at Saat Tola market, said: “There’s a good supply of summer vegetables right now. That’s why prices have dropped and stabilised. This week, prices haven’t gone up—in fact, some have come down.”

Among winter vegetables, only a few stalls were selling hyacinth beans, priced higher due to limited availability at around Tk 80-100 per kg. Cauliflower was being sold at Tk 20-40 each, bottle gourd at Tk 40-80, tomatoes at Tk 40-50 per kg, carrots at Tk 50 to 60, radishes at Tk 40-50, and cucumbers at Tk 40-50.

Other items included unripe mangoes at Tk 40 per kg, green chillies at Tk 60 to 80, papaya at Tk 40 to 50, green bananas at Tk 40 per bunch, ash gourd at Tk 40 to 50 each, and sweet pumpkin at Tk 30-40 per kg.

Lemons were priced at Tk 10-20 per four pieces depending on variety. Coriander leaves were selling for Tk 250-280 per kg.

Leafy greens were similarly priced as last week: red amaranth at Tk 10 per bunch, bottle gourd leaves at Tk 30-40, spinach at Tk 10-15, water spinach at Tk 10, Malabar spinach at Tk 30-40, stem amaranth at Tk 10, napa greens at Tk 20, and dheki greens at Tk 25.

Shah Alam, another seller at Saat Tola market, said: “Prices haven’t changed much. Since it’s been raining for several days, there’s a risk of spoilage, so farmers are bringing their produce to market quickly. Supply is good, so prices are stable.”

Buyers expressed relief at the stable prices.

Abdur Rashid, purchasing ridge gourd at Mohakhali market, said: “Prices are more or less the same as last week -- some have even dropped. It’s a relief. But I don’t want prices so low that farmers suffer losses. They should get fair prices, just as consumers should be able to afford the essentials.”

CHICKEN PRICES 'REASONABLE'

In most kitchen markets across Dhaka, chicken prices have remained stable.

The slight dip seen two weeks ago, attributed to summer heat, has not reversed.

On Friday, Sonali chicken was selling at Tk 250 to 260 per kg while the hybrid variant was slightly cheaper at Tk 230–240.

Red Layer chicken was priced at Tk 300 to 310, White Layer at Tk 280 to 290, broiler chicken at Tk 170, and local (Deshi) chicken at Tk 650 per kg.

Rajib Hossain, a poultry seller at Rajib-Mukta Poultry in Saat Tola, said: “Chicken prices have dropped by Tk 10-20. If wholesalers or farmers lower their prices, we can do the same.”

Meanwhile, Beef was selling for Tk 780-800 per kg, liver for Tk 800, head meat at Tk 450, offal at Tk 350-400, and goat meat at Tk 1,200.

Red eggs were selling at Tk 135 per dozen, duck eggs at Tk 220, and Deshi chicken eggs at Tk 85-90 per four.

POTATO, ONION PRICES REMAIN STEADY

Potato prices have remained low for several months, and onion prices have also stabilised over the past month.

Potatoes were selling at Tk 25 per kg or Tk 20 per kg if buying five kg. Locally grown onions were Tk 60, and Indian onions Tk 50 per kg.

Ginger was priced between Tk 120-280, local garlic Tk 90-100, imported garlic Tk 220-230, local lentils Tk 140, imported thick lentils Tk 120, mung beans Tk 180, chickpeas Tk 110, and grass peas Tk 130 per kg.

Soybean oil, previously in short supply, was widely available in the markets.

Faruk Hossain of Ripa General Store in Saat Tola market said: “Prices for most grocery items are stable now. Since prices rose earlier, soybean oil is now adequately stocked in the market.”