Veggies too pricey even in mid-winter

Prices of almost all vegetables have gone up in Dhaka's kitchen markets over the last two weeks, hitting the consumers hard, though it is the peak season for winter vegetables.

This is unusual because the vegetable prices remain low at this time of the year.

The Daily Star yesterday went to different kitchen markets and found each kg of brinjal was being sold for Tk 70-100, beans for Tk 60-100, tomatoes for Tk 50-60, bitter gourd for Tk 80-120, potatoes for Tk 55-60, and onions (local) for Tk 80-100. A cauliflower was available for Tk 40-60, a cabbage for Tk 40-50 and a bottle gourd for Tk 70-100.

These markets are in Shewrapara, Kazipara, Ibrahimpur, Kochukhet, and Karwan Bazar.

Prices of these items have increased by at least Tk 10-20 per kg from two weeks ago.

Quoting farmers, traders said vegetable production and harvesting were affected due to dense fog, which caused the price hike.

Mofizur Rahman, a trader at Karwan Bazar, said the supply of vegetables is inadequate.

A field-level agriculture officer in Sherpur of Bogura, famous for vegetable production, attributed this situation to increased costs of production and transport.

Seeking anonymity as he is not authorised to talk about this, the official said labour cost and prices of agri-inputs, including fertilisers and seeds, have gone up, impacting the production cost.   

Vegetable prices are two to three times higher compared to the previous year, said Jamal Uddin, a trader at Ibrahimpur kitchen market in Dhaka.

"At this time last year, potatoes were sold for Tk 20 a kg, but now I have to sell the item for Tk 60. Onions were sold for Tk 30-35 a kg, but it is now selling for Tk 90," he told The Daily Star.

Prices of live chickens and eggs have also gone up. Customers were yesterday buying broiler chicken for Tk 200-210 a kg and chicken (Sonali) for Tk 3,00-340 a kg, up by Tk 10 from last week.

Each dozen eggs were sold for Tk 130-135 in these kitchen markets, up by Tk 5 from last week.

Low-and fixed-income people are the worst sufferers as they have to buy less to due to soaring prices.

"Last year at this period, I bought 5 kg of potatoes for Tk 100, onions for Tk 30-35 a kg, and broiler chicken for Tk 150 a kg. Vegetable prices have doubled this year," said a government official at Kochukhet kitchen market.

Requesting not to be named, the official said spiralling prices forced him to cut purchase of vegetables. 

Abu Sayeed, who runs a hostel in Purba Raza Bazar, said with Tk 2,800, he could purchase vegetables, fish, chicken, and other daily essentials for a day's meals of 50 people last month. He now needs to spend more to buy the same quantity of commodities.

"I maintain my four-member family with the earnings from the business. Due to the price hike of essentials, I'm becoming indebted to traders," he said.