Vegetable prices ease, onion and potato become costlier

Prices of onion and potato have started rising in the retail markets of the capital, adding to the financial burden on consumers already struggling with high prices of rice, meat and other essentials.

However, seasonal vegetable prices declined over the past week due to improved supply.

A visit to different city markets showed that locally produced onions were selling at Tk 45-55 per kilogramme (kg), up from Tk 40-45 a week ago.

Prices of both new and old potatoes also increased to Tk 25-35 per kg from Tk 20-30 a week earlier.

Asif Ahmed, an NGO official at Adabor Kitchen Market, said there has been no disruption or supply shortage.

"Despite that, traders have raised onion and potato prices on various pretexts. Within just a week, prices of these two essentials have increased by as much as Tk 5.0 per kg," he said.

Golam Faruqe, a grocer at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said wholesale traders were citing lower supplies as the reason behind the price hike.

"Compared to last week, prices of onion and potato have increased. However, the current prices are still 25-30 per cent lower than those of the same period last year," he said. Rice prices also maintained an upward trend.

Depending on quality, Miniket rice was selling at Tk 78-95 per kg, up from Tk 75-90 previously.

BRRI dhan-28 and Paijam rice, medium varieties were priced at Tk 65-68 per kg, while coarse Swarna rice was selling at Tk 56-60 per kg.

Beef was selling at Tk 780-800 per kg. Mutton was priced at Tk 1,300 per kg, Broiler chicken was static and available at Tk 170-185 per kg.

The price of Sonali chicken dropped by around Tk 20 per kg to Tk 340, while indigenous chicken was selling at Tk 700-750 per kg. Egg prices also declined by Tk 5 per dozen.

Brown eggs were selling at Tk 120-125 per dozen, while white eggs were priced at Tk 115-120.

Meanwhile, seasonal vegetables provided some respite to consumers.

Most vegetables, including teasel gourd, pointed gourd, okra, green papaya and cucumber, were selling below Tk 60 per kg.

Bottle gourd and ash gourd were selling at Tk 50-60 a piece, down by around Tk 10 from the previous week.

Vegetable vendor Mohammad Alamin said abundant supplies from wholesale markets had pushed prices down.

"Supply is good and plenty of vegetables are arriving in the market. As a result, prices of most items have fallen," he said.

Local cucumber was selling at Tk 60 per kg, while hybrid cucumber was available at Tk 50 per kg. A week ago, local cucumber was priced at Tk 80 per kg and hybrid varieties at Tk 50-60.

Snake gourd prices fell by Tk 10 per kg to Tk 50-60, while teasel gourd dropped to Tk 60 per kg.

Yardlong beans were selling at Tk 80 per kg, okra and pointed gourd at Tk 50-60, and ridge gourd at Tk 70-80 per kg.

Green chilli prices, however, increased to Tk 140-160 per kg from Tk 120-140 a week earlier.

Fish prices also showed a slight increase. Rui fish was selling at Tk 420-500 per kg, compared to Tk 400-450 a week ago.

Pangas fish was available at Tk 180-220 per kg, while tilapia was selling at Tk 150-220 per kg-- Tk 20 a kg hike in a week.

tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com