Veggie prices rise after weeks of relief

Detailed summary

Despite the onset of winter, prices of several vegetables, including country beans, bottle gourd, pointed gourd, potatoes and tomatoes, have risen in Dhaka’s kitchen markets.

Despite the onset of winter, prices of several vegetables, including country beans, bottle gourd, pointed gourd, potatoes and tomatoes, have risen in Dhaka’s kitchen markets.

Meanwhile, prices of broiler and Sonali chicken and green chillies fell over the past week, while fish, meat, eggs and other essentials remained unchanged.

Visits to kitchen markets in Shewrapara, Kazipara, Ibrahimpur and Karwan Bazar yesterday revealed the mixed trend.

Mustafa Kamal, a retailer at Shewrapara kitchen market who sources produce from the Mirpur-1 wholesale hub, said prices of several vegetables had risen over the past couple of days after remaining low for weeks.

Country beans rose from Tk 50-60 to Tk 60-70 per kg, pointed gourd from Tk 30-40 to Tk 50, pumpkin from Tk 30-35 to Tk 40, and bottle gourd from Tk 30-40 to Tk 60 apiece.

Prices of green tomatoes, new potatoes and papaya also increased, he said.

Jamal Hossain, a wholesaler at Karwan Bazar, attributed the increases to a slight drop in supply. He also said the US dollar had strengthened against the taka last week, raising the prices of imported vegetables.

New potatoes were selling at Tk 100-120 per kg, up from Tk 90-100 last week, while ripe tomatoes rose from Tk 110-130 to Tk 120-140.

Old potatoes remained at Tk 20-30, onions at Tk 40-50 and brinjal at Tk 40-60 per kg.

Opening of the article, excerpted from The Daily Star. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.