The potato and onion market experienced a significant surge even after the Eid holidays, with prices soaring by Tk 5.0-10 per kg.
Despite the conclusion of Eid holidays, the kitchen and groceries in the city had yet to return to normal, and prices of these essentials witnessed a further increase, attributed by traders to a rise in district hubs.
In city's markets potato prices reached at Tk 50-60 a kg (cardinal, diamant) and Tk 65-70 a kg (BARI alu 29), while local onions were priced at Tk 55-65, and imported ones at Tk 65-70 a kg, according to kitchen market sources.
Jahangir Alam, a vendor at Rayerbazar, told the FE that potato prices had been steadily rising every week since the beginning of Ramadan.
Starting the harvesting season at Tk 35 a kg, it had reached Tk 50-52 a kg now, he said.
Last year, the season began at Tk 18-20 a kg in the wholesale market, he said.
He said the dominance of big traders and cold storage owners has been destabilising the market.
The government had set a maximum price of Tk 29 a kg for potatoes this year, but cold storage prices surged to Tk 35 per kg long before Eid, he said.
Bangladesh Cold Storage Association president Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu said production of potato might be 20-30 per cent less this year from that of last year.
He said farmers themselves have preserved potatoes in large chunks apart from traders following the lower production.
He said potato price at farm level was above Tk 28 a kg this year which was maximum Tk 16 a kg last year.
He said prices of potato will remain above Tk 50 for such lower production.
However, the Agriculture Ministry was still fixed to its previous forecast that potato outputs might surpass 12 million tonnes.
Onion trader Joynal Abedin at Shyambazar wholesale market in the city told the FE that hoarders had begun preserving seasonal onions in Rajbari, Gopalganj, Faridpur, Pabna, and other areas in large volumes to make high profits.
Meanwhile, the prices of summer vegetables showed a slight decline with snake gourd retailed at Tk 60-70, bitter gourd at Tk 70-80, pointed gourd at Tk 60-70, long-yard beans at Tk 80-90, and pumpkin at Tk 30-35 per kg.
Some beef shops were open on Monday, selling the item at Tk 760-780 a kg, slight decline compared to that of the day before Eid.
But fish prices remained high with cultured ruhi sold at Tk 380-550, desi ruhi at Tk 650-1200 a kg, shrimp at Tk 750-1,350 a kg, and hilsa at Tk 1,400-2,250 a kg.
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