Prices of winter vegetables high despite availability

Customers blamed the lack of market supervision for the high prices.

Every year winter vegetables typically arrive in markets slightly ahead of the season, offering a chance for buyers to purchase them at comparatively lower prices. However, despite the presence of winter vegetables this year, buyers are still faced with high prices. 

Customers blamed the lack of market supervision for the high prices. Vendors, on the other hand, contend that there is still a shortage of supply. They believe that if the supply becomes regular, vegetable prices will decrease. 

On Friday, various kitchen markets in the capital, including those at New Market, the Kella intersection, Hatirpool and Ananda Bazar, were bustling with buyers and sellers.

At New Market and Hatirpool kitchen markets, winter vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage were being sold at Tk100-170 a pair depending on the size. Gourds were being sold at Tk60-100. Apart from this, among other vegetables, raw papaya was Tk40, round brinjal, kakrol (spiny gourd), tomato and kochur mukhi (bulbous root of the arum) were Tk100 per kg. 

Local cucumber, bitter gourd and radish were being sold at Tk70. Potol (pointed gourd), chichinga (snake gourd) and dhundul (sponge gourd) were Tk60. Besides, carrots were being sold at Tk120, beans at Tk140, green chillies at Tk240 and coriander leaves at Tk180 per kg.

Buyers expressed their dissatisfaction, noting the absence of effective supervision despite the government having multiple organizations tasked with market regulation. 

A shopper at the Rampura kitchen market, found the current high prices for winter vegetables unusual. Typically, when prices fluctuate, various organizations step in to regulate them. However, no such oversight has been observed in the kitchen market.

Sellers acknowledged the price hike, attributing it to limited supply. However, they anticipate a drop in prices as the vegetable supply increases in the market over the next few days. 

Robin Adhikari Alamgir, a vegetable trader at the Hatirpool market, mentioned that winter vegetables have recently started becoming available. He expects prices to decrease significantly once the market is fully stocked.

Meanwhile, the prices of potatoes and onions remain unpredictable, while other food items have maintained their stability. Additionally, fish and meat prices have remained unchanged compared to last week.

At fish markets, roe and catla were being sold at the rate of Tk400-600 per kg depending on the size. Cultivated koi was at Tk300, but local koi was Tk600-800. Besides, pabda was Tk400, tilapia Tk250 and pangas Tk200 per kg. 

However, like other days, the price of river fish was comparatively higher than that of farmed fish.