Vegetable prices remain high, people buy in small quantities

Vegetable prices remain high, people buy in small quantities.

 Dhaka, Sept 19 – The prices of vegetables in Dhaka’s kitchen markets have shown no sign of decline throughout the month, forcing consumers to reduce purchases to 250–500 grams instead of one kilogram.

Frustrated buyers say the soaring prices have put additional pressure on their daily expenses.

A visit to several wholesale and retail markets in the capital on Friday revealed that vegetable prices remain unchanged from last week.

Hyacinth bean (shim) is being sold at the highest rate—Tk 200 per kg—while good quality round brinjal is going for Tk 150 a kg. Tomatoes and carrots are also selling for more than Tk 150 per kg.

“One round brinjal weighs more than 250 grams. That means each piece costs Tk 40–50. We cannot afford to buy more than two,” said Sumona Akhter Ruby, a shopper at Uttar Badda kitchen market.

Another consumer, Monsur Ahmed, said, “A quarter kilo of hyacinth bean costs Tk 50. Tomatoes are almost the same. With Tk 500, vegetables don’t last even two days for a family of four.”

Among other vegetables, yardlong beans (barboti) are selling at Tk 120–80 a kg, while sponge gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd and okra are priced at Tk 80–100 a kg. Bottle gourd is selling for Tk 100–120 per piece and jali kumra for Tk 50–70 each.

Traders said that previously they did not sell less than half a kilo of vegetables, but due to the high prices, they are now selling in 250-gram portions.

“As wholesale prices are still high and supply is limited, we are forced to buy at higher rates. Sales are also lower now,” said Asadul, a vegetable seller at Motijheel AGB Colony market.

The price of leafy greens has also gone up in line with vegetables. Just a month ago, spinach, water spinach and stem amaranth were Tk 10 per bunch, but now they are Tk 20. Pumpkin leaf, bottle gourd leaf and Malabar spinach (puishak) are being sold for Tk 50 a bunch.

A visit to Karwan Bazar wholesale hub, however, showed that prices have dropped by Tk 10–15 per kg compared to last week, though this decline has not been reflected in the retail markets.

The prices of small fish have also surged. Kachki fish is selling at Tk 600–800 a kg, river shrimp at Tk 1,000–1,200, local koi at Tk 800–1,000, punti at Tk 650–750 and gunchi at Tk 700 a kg.

Despite an abundant supply of hilsa in the market, the prices remain beyond the reach of most middle-income consumers. Large hilsa is selling for Tk 2,200–2,500 a kg, medium-sized for Tk 1,800–2,000, and small ones for Tk 1,200–1,500.

In the meat market, chicken prices remain unchanged—sonali chicken is selling for Tk 300–320 a kg, broiler at Tk 170, and local chicken between Tk 550 and 650 depending on location.

Beef is selling at Tk 750–800 a kg, while mutton is priced at Tk 1,000–1,200 per kg.

Consumers expressed frustration, saying that unless vegetable prices fall, it will be increasingly difficult to manage household expenses as a large portion of their monthly income is being spent on groceries. - UNB