Staff Reporter
As the winter is approaching, the prices of the season’s vegetables in the kitchen markets have started to come down due to abundant supply.
Though the prices of vegetables have decreased, to the utter satisfaction of the consumers onion prices which went up several weeks ago in the city's retail markets are still high.
At the fag end of the week, the prices of the onions have increased from Tk 10 to Tk 25 per kg. As a result, the price of this product is burning a hole in consumers’ pockets.
Visiting several kitchen markets on Friday, this picture was found in different markets in Shanti Nagar, Karwan Bazar and Turag areas of the capital. Traders say supplies of winter vegetables in the market have increased, resulting in a fall in prices. So vegetables are available at a fairly cheap rate and are within the reach of the buyers. But the rise in price of onions is still a matter of concern.
The retail market rates of locally grown onions were Tk 95-110 per kg and imported onions were Tk 95-115 a kg. But even in last week, locally grown onion was sold at Tk 90-100 per kg and imported onion at Tk 80-90 per kg. The government's marketing agency- Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB)- in their market survey, highlighted this rise in the price of onion.
One importer told our correspondent that supply of onion is low in the market. So the price is going up. He said the stock of local onion has almost come to an end. Besides, the quality of onions being imported from Myanmar is not good. And imports from India are still closed. Therefore, onion prices are less likely to fall. However, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said last week that India could lift the ban on onion exports later this month. If this happens, the onion price will come back between Tk 60-65 per kg.
Meanwhile, on Friday eggplant was sold at Tk 40-45 per kg, beans Tk 60-70 per kg, okra at Tk 30-45 per kg, spiny gourd at Tk 40-45 per kg, bitter gourd at Tk 50-60 per kg, papaya Tk 20 to 30 per kg, cucumber Tk 40-50 per kg and tomatoes at Tk 80-100 per kg.
Besides cauliflower was sold at Tk 20-30 per piece, snake gourd at Tk 40-50 per kg. Cabbage was available at the same price.
Fishes like tilapia, prawn, rohi, catla, koral are being sold at price of Tk 130-700 per kg. Broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 130-140 per kg, beef Tk 550-580 per kg and goat meat Tk 800 per kg.
