FE Report
Ginger price increased to an all time high of Tk 220 per kg on Friday.
Prices of a few vegetable items, onion, chilli and fish varieties reduced slightly, rice remained pricey while other commodities were stable on the day compared with a week ago, traders said.
Ginger of imported variety price hit a record Tk 220 per kg while local variety also witnessed a record, selling at Tk180-200 per kg, according to traders in the city's major kitchen markets.
"Local ginger variety has been selling at Tk165-170 per kg at the wholesale in Karwanbazar for last five days. Imported Chinese variety is scarce and is being sold at Tk180-200 per kg at the wholesale level," Bodiul Alam, a retailer at Chapra Mashjid Bazar in Azimpur area said.
A Department of Agricultural Marketing official said that the price has broken the past record of 2011 when retail price of ginger topped Tk180 per kg.
He said gradual decline in local production has made the country totally dependent on imports.
Prices of ginger also hit record in China, India and Nepal in 2014, which caused significant increase in price in Bangladesh, he said.
The country produced 74,380 tonnes of ginger in FY'11, which has come down to 69,508 tonnes in FY'13 when actual demand is nearly 0.15 million tonnes, he added.
Rice prices were stable maintaining the higher prices. Shwarna variety was sold at Tk36-37 and Miniket at Tk 48-54 per kg on Friday.
Onion prices reduced by Tk2-3 per kg on Friday as local variety was sold at Tk24-25 and imported at Tk21-22 per kg.
Chilli price decreased to Tk40-45 per kg, down from Tk55-60 per kg seven days back.
Okra, pointed gourd, snake gourd, long bean, brinjal, pumpkin, moringa prices decreased by Tk5-10 per kg or per piece on the day.
Tomato price increased by Tk5-6 per kg in last seven days and was sold at Tk40 per kg on the day.
Prices hilsa, pangas, tilapia, local carp while catfish varieties like rui, katla, shing, magur etc showed a decline.
Hilsa price witnessed drastic fall in last five days as a medium sized (700-800 gm) fish was sold at Tk220-250 on the day against Tk600-650 before Pahela Baisakh festival-the first day of Bangla Calendar.
Magur and shing prices reduced by Tk50-60 per kg in last five days. Shing (medium sized) was sold at Tk650-700 per kg on the day.
Prices of other major commodities including meat, pulses, edible oil, sugar, salt, flour, spices, tea etc were stable throughout the week.
