Plentiful Winter Vegetables in Market, But Prices are High

Despite the availability of winter vegetables this year, buyers are still faced with high prices. The common man is in a hurry to buy products at high prices.

After visiting various markets, it can be seen that no vegetable is available below Tk60 to 80.

On Friday (November 29), after visiting several markets including Nayabazar, Rampura Bazar, and Karwan Bazar in the capital, it was seen that fresh winter vegetables of various kinds are available in the vegetable markets. Various vegetables including cauliflower, cabbage, gourd, beans, and brinjal are seen in the retail and wholesale markets. However, there was no comparable presence of buyers.

Traders say that the prices of several vegetables including beans, radishes, and brinjal have decreased by Tk10 to 20 per kg compared to last week. The sellers have assured us that it will decrease further if the winter gets worse.

Last week's Tk100 beans are being sold at Tk80 this week, Tk60 radish at Tk50, Tk100 beet at Tk80, imported tomatoes at Tk150, local tomatoes at Tk200, green chilies at Tk160, less spicy green chilies at Tk120, round brinjal at Tk100, long brinjal at Tk80 per kg.

Like last week, papaya is being sold at Tk50, carrot at Tk150, bitter gourd at Tk80 to 100, cauliflower and cabbage at Tk50, sweet pumpkin and sweet potato at Tk60 and Tk80, taro stem root at Tk100, lady's finger, snake gourd, zucchini, ridge gourd and cucumber at Tk80 per kg. Apart from this, lemongrass is being sold at Tk15 to Tk24, basil leaves at Tk35, spinach, and red spinach at Tk15 per kg.

Rokon, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, said that winter vegetables have started coming to the market. As a result, the prices of beans, brinjal, cabbage, and radish have decreased slightly. On the other hand, the price of taro stem root has increased. However, it is expected that the prices of vegetables will come within the purchasing power of the common people within 10 to 12 days.

Shahriar, who came to the market to shop at New Market, said that for a month, the prices of most vegetables have been between 60 and 100 taka. I thought that all vegetables would be between Tk50 to Tk60; but except for one or two, most are out of reach.

The country's hilsa market is now unstable. This delicious silverfish is being sold at high prices in various parts of the country, including the capital. In a week, it has increased to Tk400-500 per kg, and hilsa weighing one kg is being sold at Tk2200. In addition, hilsa weighing one and a half kg is Tk3000, hilsa weighing Tk700-800 grams is Tk1900, hilsa weighing 500-600 gm is Tk1400, and hilsa weighing Tk300-400 gm is Tk800-1000.

The prices of other fish in the market have also increased slightly. In the market, per kg, Salmon is being sold at Tk380 to 450, carp at Tk400 to 480, cultivated anabus fish at Tk550, cultivated catfish at Tk500, cultivated climbing fish at Tk240 to 280, Coral at Tk750 to 800, tengra at Tk550 to 700, cultivated pangas at Tk180 to 230 and tilapia at Tk180 to 220.

In addition, per kg boal is being sold at Tk750 to 800, poa at Tk450, pabda at Tk350 to 450, air at Tk850 to 900, Climbing fish at Tk1,300 to 1,700, anabus at Tk1,400 to 1,500, Shol at Tk900 to 1,000 and River Pangas is being sold at Tk900 to 1,200.

Meanwhile, the prices of Sonali and broiler chickens have decreased slightly, but the prices of other meats and eggs remain stable. Golden chicken is being sold at Tk290-300 per kg and broiler chicken at Tk175-190. In addition, domestic chicken is being sold at Tk550-600 per kg, white layer at Tk230 and red layer at Tk280. Ducks are being sold at Tk550-600 per piece depending on the breed.

Poultry traders say that the price of broiler and golden chicken has decreased due to increased supply in the market. Hakim, a chicken trader in the capital's Karwan Bazar, said that the supply has increased in the market. This has reduced the price. However, the wedding season has already started; it is not possible to say how long the price will remain low. If demand increases, the price may also increase.

Meanwhile, the price of sugar and eggs has started to decrease a month after the duty exemption. According to the Commerce Ministry's news of importing 190 million eggs, a dozen eggs are being sold at Tk145, down Tk5. Sugar is being sold at Tk120-125 per kg. Packets of sugar are being sold at Tk130-135.

Traders said that since the import of eggs, shopkeepers have started selling eggs at low prices. On the other hand, the reduction in duty on sugar imports has reduced the price of sugar. As a result, its impact is also being seen in the market.

Meanwhile, although local onions were sold at Tk130 per kg throughout the week, the price of this product has decreased by Tk5. In the current market, local onions are sold at Tk125 per kg and Indian onions at Tk100 to 110. However, even though new potatoes have come to the market, the price of this product has not decreased. Old potatoes are being sold at Tk75-80 as before. New potatoes are being sold at Tk100 to 120 per kg.

A visit to the rice market shows that new paijam and BR-28 rice have started coming to the market. However, as there is not enough supply, it has not had much impact on the market, rice is being sold at the previous price.

Both buyers and sellers demand regular market monitoring to control the daily commodities market. Buyers say that regular market monitoring is not conducted properly. This allows sellers to increase prices as they wish.

And sellers say that some unscrupulous traders are increasing prices as they wish. Regular raids in the market will reduce the violence of unscrupulous people.