Vegetables dearer in districts

OUR CORRESPONDENTS | Published: August 02, 2024 20:18:05

The prices of most green, leafy summer vegetables have marked a sharp rise across districts due to widespread anti-quota clashes and the enforcement of a curfew.
In Rajshahi, traders said commodity supplies to retail markets have decreased significantly due to the unrelenting student strike and the resultant curfew.
On Saturday, brinjal retailed at Tk 100-110 per kilo, tomato at Tk 180-200, potato at Tk 70-80 and green chilli at Tk 450.
The prices of various rice varieties have also increased by Tk 1.0-3.0 per kg.
Mojibur Rahman, a dealer who supplies essentials to local markets, attributed this price hike to supply crunch as they could not bring commodities from silos.
In Rangpur, vegetable prices have posted a spike in the past few days due to massive anti-quota clashes.
Saiful Islam, a retailer at Kamal Kachna Vegetable Market, said, "Scanty vegetable supplies and inflated rates are because of an adverse political situation."
Eggplant now sells at Tk 80-90 per kg against Tk 60-70 even a week ago, okra at Tk 50, tomato at Tk 130, cucumber at Tk 100 and green chilli at Tk 320.
On the other hand, long bean sold at Tk 80-90 a kg, taro arum at Tk 70-80 apiece, papaya at Tk 50 a kg, pointed gourd at Tk 80 and bitter gourd at Tk 90-100.
In Chandpur, the imposition of a curfew on Friday night made all modes of fish- and vegetable-laden medium and heavy transport off-limits to roads, hitting hard poor people and those on fixed incomes.
Potato sold at Tk 65 a kg, pumpkin at Tk 50 a kg, green chilli at Tk 400, brinjal at Tk 100, onion Tk 125, chichinga jumped to Tk 70.
Same is the case with cucumber, papaya, okra and radish selling at Tk 80-90 while carrot at Tk 190-200 per kg. Medium-sized bottle gourd sells at Tk 100-120 apiece.
On the other hand, hilsa sells at Tk 2,000 per kg. An 800-gram hilsa sells at Tk 1,500. Hilsa weighing 500/600 gram sells at Tk 1,200.
In Pabna, the prices of all types of leafy vegetables and essential commodities have, however, registered a fall since the beginning of 'Bangla Blockade'.
The price of each product falls by Tk 5.0-10 on average except potato for no movement of vehicles outside the northern district.
Vegetable seller Kholiur Rahman said, "Prices are falling as vehicles can't move, thereby incurring a loss of profit. But potato price increases as it is imported from Bogura."
In Magura, the kitchen market is witnessing little footprint of customers. Against this backdrop, the prices of vegetables and spices have posted a drop.
Cucumber sold at 160 per kg on Saturday, while sweet pumpkin at Tk 30, imported green chilli at Tk 280. However, potato and onion prices remain unchanged.
Korom Ali, a vegetable trader at Magura town, said, "We're selling goods at low rates for lack of customers and in fear of damage."
In Lalmonirhat, the prices of daily necessities have remained unchanged due to complete shutdown and curfew.
The FE visited a local kitchen market and saw prices of most commodities except green chilli unchanged.
When asked, vendor Ainul Haque at Sena Moitri Kitchen Market said traders could not send vegetables to other districts for lack of transport.
As most chilli fields have got damaged for days of ceaseless rain, the supply of the key kitchen item is poor and its price is very high.
Green chilli sells at Tk 350-400 a kg, potato at Tk 55-60 and some varieties at Tk 70. On the other hand, egg sells at Tk 132 per dozen.