The prices of vegetables witnessed a further hike on Tuesday, adding owes to the consumers who are already fuming with the rising costs of essentials.
More than 15 out of 20 key kitchen commodities witnessed a spike by Tk 5-15 per kilogram (kg), according to market sources.
Most of the seasonal green vegetables sold between Tk 50 and Tk 90 a kg.
Brinjal of several varieties retailed at Tk 60-80 a kg at different outlets. Pointed gourd was traded at Tk 60-65 a kg from Tk 50-55 a kg week ago.
A medium-sized bottle gourd sold at Tk 60-70 apiece on the day and bitter gourd at Tk 70-80 a kg.
Green papaya was the cheaper vegetable available at Tk 30-40 a kg.
Stored tomato and early winter variety of bean were priced at Tk 100-140 a kg.
Early variety of small-sized cauliflower and cabbage sold at Tk 40-50 apiece and radish at Tk 60-70 a kg.
Traders said the supply of late summer crops has declined and fields of early winter vegetables have also got damaged by untimely rain.
Market watchers, however, emphasised strong monitoring to minimise a huge price gap between farm and retail levels to give consumers a relief.
About an escalation in prices, the FE talked to Abul Kashem Molla, a wholesaler at Sadeq Khan Agricultural Market in the capital's Rayerbazar area.
He said a truckload of pointed gourd and brinjal (totalling 12 tonnes) now costs Tk 0.65-0.68 million which was Tk 0.42-0.45 million a week back.
Mr Molla said the overall vegetable production has declined this year amid two spells of flooding that hit some major vegetable-growing districts.
Many vegetable growers, who went for early winter varieties, also witnessed a crop loss for the recent heavy rain and flood in some districts, he added.
Mr Molla sees no change of ease in prices before the second week of November when the supply of seasonal winter crops will increase substantially.
Department of Agricultural Marketing deputy director Dewan Ashraful Hossain said vegetable prices have increased at farm level, but a price gap between farmers and city retailers is still high.
He said brinjal was selling at Tk 26-28 a kg at Narsingdi Sadar which was traded at Tk 53-55 wholesale at Karwanbazar.
The same was retailing at Tk 70-80 a kg, Mr Hossain told the FE.
He cited an 80-110-per cent gap between farm and retail levels, considering prices of 20 kinds of vegetables.
The official also accentuated stronger market watch to ensure checks and balances in the market.
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