Beef, chicken, spice prices jump ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

FE REPORT
Prices of beef, chicken, onion, ginger, garlic and imported spices like cardamom, cinnamon, clove and cumin seeds have shot up ahead of the Eid-ul Azha festival, to be celebrated on May 28.
Market visits showed that ginger is being sold at Tk200 to Tk240 per kilogram depending on quality, which is Tk20 to Tk30 higher than last week.
Local varieties of onion are selling at Tk50-60 per kg, while imported garlic is priced at Tk180 to Tk 200 a kg depending on quality.

Prices of premium spices, which remain in high demand during Eid, increased by Tk 30-50 per 100 grams as cumin is selling at Tk65-75, cardamom at Tk450-500, black cardamom at Tk400-450, cinnamon at Tk50-55, cloves at Tk150-200, black pepper at Tk140-150 and bay leaves at Tk 30-40.
Abu Mahfuz, a spice vendor at Town Hall in Mohammadpur, said the price of ginger has risen because most of it is imported and even small fluctuations in the international market and supply chain affect prices.
Domestic ginger supply is also currently low, although stocks of other spices remain sufficient.
An official of the Bangladesh Wholesale Spice Traders Association (Paikari Garam Masala Baboshayee Samity) said spice imports and supply ahead of Eid-ul-Azha are much better this year compared to previous years.
There is no shortage in the wholesale market, he said, adding retailers are charging some additional ahead of Eid.
Beef price, however, showed a Tk40-50 rise per kg. It was sold at Tk 800-850 a kg on Friday.
Adilur Rahman, a meat shop owner at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said cattle prices rose before the sacrificial festival, causing a slight hike in beef price.
He said cattle raisers and traders are storing cattle for the Eid to make more profits.
Broiler chicken prices remained unchanged at Tk180 to Tk200 but Sonali/Pakistani chicken price increased by Tk20-40 a kg as it was being sold at Tk 350 to Tk370 a kg on the day.
Eggs prices remained static at the previous high of Tk 150-160 a dozen.
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