Improved flood situation helps ease veg prices

FE Report
Prices of most vegetables declined last week that ended on Friday thanks to improvement of flood situation in many districts, traders said.
Prices of chilli, onion and lentil also witnessed a plunge last week compared to their previous ranges.
Prices of different varieties of brinjal declined to Tk 50-80 per kg on Friday from Tk 60-100 per kg a week back.
Best quality round brinjal was sold at Tk 60 per kg at Nowabganj Bazar while the same produce was traded at Tk 80 per kg at Eskaton, Basabo and Hatirpool areas.
Prices of pointed gourd, ridge gourd, sponge gourd, bitter gourd, teasel gourd, tomato, long bean and local bean declined by Tk 15-20 per kg on Friday compared to their previous levels.
Price of bitter gourd of 'ustha' variety was unchanged at Tk 80-120 based on quality.
Prices of leaf-vegetables were still higher as per bunch was sold at Tk 12-30.
Chilli prices declined significantly as imported varieties were sold at Tk 100-120 per kg while local varieties were sold at Tk 160-180 per kg --- a Tk 80-100 decline in a week.
Onion was sold at Tk 70-75 (local) and Tk 55-65 (imported) on the day --- a Tk 5 reduction in a week.
Lentil of Nepalese variety was sold at Tk 120-125 per kg from Tk 125-130 per kg.
Most other commodity prices were almost static.
When asked on the recent decline in prices of vegetables, Md Mainuddin, a vendor at Palashi Bazar said that prices have started to ease in the wholesale market which caused the price decline.
He said supply of vegetables and spices also increased in Karwan Bazar, Rayer Bazar and Shyambazar which helped easing their prices.
Md Emran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arot Malik Samity, a Karwan Bazar-based wholesalers' association, said flood condition has improved in many districts which has been the reason of increase in supply of vegetables.
He said apart from import, supply of chilli from Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka and Chittagong divisions has started rising amid receding flood waters and a halt in rain.
He said prices will decline further if there will be no rain in the country.
However, according to the state-run flood forecasting and warning centre (FFWC) data, updated on Friday evening, water in 78 major rivers out of 85 were in a declining trend and this will continue for next five days.
Water in all rivers except three was flowing below the danger level, the data showed.
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