Rein in tomato price

Prices of everyday essentials are now out of reach for many people. If chicken, egg, beef and fish are too pricey to afford, they used to go to the section of the kitchen market where vegetables are sold. But now vegetable prices are also skyrocketing. The price of green chilli has already seen a record high of Tk 700 a kilogram recently. Now it is tomatoes' turn. It is unthinkable that one kilogramme of tomato is now selling at Tk 450.

Why is tomato so dear nowadays? First, as it is a winter vegetable, its supply is limited in the monsoon. Also, that the storage facilities to preserve a perishable item like tomato are only a few. So, there is a supply crisis that is pushing its price up. However, the government should look into whether any syndicate of traders is involved behind this or not. The authorities concerned should take necessary action to bring the price within the consumers' reach.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

ilcbd2008@gmail.com