Hilsa price posts 100pc rise before Pahela Baishakh

FE Report
Hilsa became dearer in the city as the prices of the delicious fish shot up ahead of the 'Pahela Baisakh', traders said on Friday.
Prices of a few vegetable and onion reduced while ginger and dry fish increased. Other commodity prices remained stable.
Demand for Hilsa fish usually increases by twenty times during 'Pahela Baisakh' celebration, the first day of the Bangla New Year. Many traders began storing since late last month to make windfalls.
Hilsa prices increased nearly by 90-100 per cent on Friday compared with a week ago, as a medium sized (650gram -800 gram) fish was sold at Tk700-800.
Big sized (900 gram+) Hilsa was rare in the city kitchen markets.
A pair of big sized fish was sold at Tk2200-2500, which was Tk1400-1600 ten days back.
Price of small sized (below 600 gram) fish also increased and was sold at Tk1000-1200 per pair against Tk600-700 ten days back, according to traders of retail markets.
"We see no big supply… Traders told us that supply had reduced," Mohon Rajbongshi, a fish retailer at Companighat Bazar under Hazaribagh area said.
He said: "I bought 20 medium sized fish at Tk14, 500 from Showarighat wholesale this morning (Friday). The price has increased nearly by 90 per cent in a week."
"Many of the traders are storing the fish to make more profit next week" he alleged.
However, Hilsa yield was a record 0.396 million tonnes in FY'13. The production might surpass 0.4 million tonnes this financial year, officials at the state-run Department of Fisheries said.
However, a few summer vegetables' prices reduced by Tk5-20 per kg.
Moringa (shajna) price reduced to Tk60-70 per kg, which was Tk80-90 last week.
Snake gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd (jhinga), pointed gourd, and okra were sold at Tk 20-22, Tk30-35, Tk35-40, Tk35-40, and Tk 35-40 per kg respectively on the day.
Onion prices reduced slightly and were sold at Tk25-26 (local) and Tk22-24 (imported) per kg.
Ginger prices increased to Tk160-165 per kg on the day, which was Tk135-140 per kg seven days back amid total stop of import, traders said.
Prices of different varieties of dry fish also increased for Pahela Baisakh festival as this item is also widely consumed during the season.
Price of 'loitta' variety of dry fish increased to Tk700-750 per kg which was Tk600-620 seven days back.
Overall, prices of other major commodities including meat, fish (excluding Hilsa), pulses, edible oil, milk, sugar, salt, flour, spices, tea etc were stable.