Vegetable prices soar amid rain

Rain in many parts of the country has disrupted supply chains, driving up vegetable prices and increasing pressure on consumers.

Vegetable prices have increased by Tk 5-15 per kg or bunch in the past week, with brinjal now selling at Tk 90-120 per kg, tomatoes at Tk 140-150, carrots at Tk 140-160, and long yard bean, taro stem, and teasel gourd at Tk 80-90 per kg.

Snake gourd, pointed gourd, and okra are retailing at Tk 60-70 per kg, while leafy vegetables are being sold at Tk 15-35 per bunch.

Papaya and pumpkin prices have remained stable, at Tk 40-50 and Tk 25-30 per kg respectively. However, green chilli prices have surged by Tk 20 per kg, now selling at Tk 120-140 in most city markets.

Vendors attribute the price hike to rainfall in various districts, which has disrupted vegetable supply. "Prices have gone up due to rain affecting supply in many areas," said Borhan Uddin, a vegetable seller in West Dhanmondi.

According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), farm-level prices of most vegetables have remained stable over the past two weeks.

However, the retail prices in urban areas have continued to rise. A DAM price report released on Thursday noted that retail prices in city markets are 40 to 100 per cent higher than the standard reasonable prices.

TM Rashed Khan, assistant director at DAM, highlighted the significant price gaps between districts and cities.

He said pointed gourd is selling for Tk 20-24 per kg in district markets and Tk 28-32 in city wholesale markets, but some retail shops in Dhaka are charging up to Tk 70 per kg, despite the maximum retail price being set at Tk 38.

Similarly, brinjal prices range from Tk 30-40 in district markets and wholesale, but in Dhaka, it is being sold for up to Tk 120 per kg, far exceeding its suggested retail price of Tk 60.

Green chilli is another glaring example, with prices below Tk 30 per kg in districts like Jamalpur and Bogura, yet selling at Tk 100-140 in the capital.

SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), criticised the lack of effective market monitoring. "The vegetable market is largely unregulated now. The government should strengthen its oversight to reduce the widening price gap between farm-level and urban retail prices," he said.

Meanwhile, prices of other essential items remained mostly stable over the past week.

Potatoes are selling at Tk 25-30 per kg and onions at Tk 55-65 per kg, while egg prices are steady at Tk 118-120 per dozen.

However, meat prices have edged up. Beef is selling at Tk 780-800 per kg, and Pakistani chicken at Tk 290-310 per kg, both marking a rise of around Tk 20 per kg within a week.

Rice prices have remained high but stable, with coarse rice selling at Tk 55-56 per kg, medium varieties at Tk 65-66, and finer rice between Tk 78 and Tk 100 per kg in city markets.

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