Vermicelli price moves up as Eid festival round the corner

 FE Report
Prices of vermicelli increased as the Eid festival is just days away.
Vermicelli (locally known as semai) is a food item widely consumed during Eid festival. Both rural and urban people prepare special delicacies made of semai to serve guests on the Eid day.
Although the item is available round the year, but 90 per cent of its trading is done during two Eid festivals, according to the Directorate General of Foods (DGoF).
Different varieties of semai prices increased by Tk 15-20 (loose) per kg and Tk 2-6 (packet) in the city in the last seven days, retailers of kitchen markets said.
Both normal and 'lachcha' variety witnessed the fresh hike.
Loose semai (normal variety) was sold at Tk60-90 per kg based on quality while same variety in packet under many brands was sold at Tk 140-150 per kg.
Branded semai such as Kolson, Banaful, Alauddin, and Pran--both are of normal and lachcha--were sold at Tk32 per 200 gm---a Tk4 increase compared to that of the previous week.
 However, loose lachcha was sold at Tk120-160 per kg based on its quality.
 'Najim Uddin Lachcha', a famous brand, was selling at Tk150-160 per kg in the city.
"Najim Uddin Lachcha prices were between Tk130-140 per kg last year which has been increased this year" Md Kawsar, a grocer at Azimpur Graveyard area said.
 "I have bought good quality loose semai (normal variety) at Tk62 per kg at Moulovibazar wholesale market today (Friday), which was Tk 54-56 per kg few days back"
He said prices of all qualities of semai witnessed a Tk4-8 increase in the wholesale, which has caused the hike at retail.
When asked, secretary of Moulvibazar Wholesale Merchants Association, the biggest commodity wholesale market in the capital, Md Golam Moula said the wholesalers have been told to maintain quality of the item.
He said their association will take stern action if anyone found guilty of selling unhygienic products.
Chicken meat prices increased, onion and garlic reduced while prices of other commodities remained static for the last seven days.
However, most of the vegetables' prices reduced in the last seven days significantly. Brinjal, which marked an all-time high this month, reduced by Tk15-20 per kg in a week based on varieties.
 Ausha or long variety, suitable for the fried item 'Beginu' were sold at tk60-80 per kg in different kitchen markets--a Tk20 reduction in a week.
Other varieties were sold at Tk35-50 per kg in the city markets---a Tk15 decrease.
 Prices of gourd species like sponge, ridge, pointed, snake, bitter and bottled, okra, cucumber, leaf vegetable prices reduced by Tk 5-10 per kg, per piece or per bunch.
Tomato and local bean prices were much higher due to off season. Both the vegetables were sold at Tk120-130 per kg in different kitchen markets.
 Onion prices reduced slightly by Tk1-2 per kg and were sold at Tk35-40 (both local and imported) per kg in the city. Garlic prices reduced by Tk10 per kg and were sold at Tk60 (local) and Tk70 (imported) per kg.
Chicken (broiler) increased by Tk5-10 per kg while local and Pakistani varieties also witnessed a hike by Tk30-50 per piece based on their sizes.