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Prices of potatoes, brinjal and garlic witnessed a hike while farm egg prices showed a slight decline last week, said traders.
Prices of stored potato of the cardinal, diamond and carriage varieties increased by Tk 5.0 a kg in last three days to Tk 35-Tk 40 (diamond, cardinal) and Tk 40-45 (carriage) a kg on Saturday.
The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded a 15.40 per cent fresh hike in potato prices in a week.
The current price is 67 per cent higher than that of last year, said TCB.
Ekramul Haque, a wholesaler at Mohammadpur Krishi Market area in the city, told the FE that stored potato prices increased by Tk 3.0-3.5 a kg over one and half weeks in Rangpur, Bogura and Munshiganj cold storages.
He said production of potatoes might have declined this year which put effect in the market.
Ashraful Islam, a Rangpur based cold storage owner, said traders bought potatoes at Tk 15-16 a kg this year amid a low production.
He said traders are selling diamond variety of potatoes at Tk 25-27 a kg at cold storage gate for last one week which was Tk 22-24 per kg earlier.
He said prices of vegetables are much higher for last ten months have raised demand for potato in the market.
According to the Bangladesh Cold Storage Association, cold storages under the association preserved 4.2-4.5 million tonnes of potatoes which is 40-45 per cent of the total production.
Bangladesh produced 10 million tonnes of potatoes in 2018-19 financial year against demand for 8.0 million tonnes, according to the agriculture ministry.
However, local garlic prices increased by Tk10 a kg selling at Tk 100-120.
Green chilli prices remained static at its previous high of Tk 180-220 a kg.
Farm egg prices showed Tk 4.0-Tk5.0 decline per dozen selling at Tk 100-105.
Meanwhile, brinjal became pricier further by Tk 15-20 based on varieties.