Chilli, onion prices rise, other vegetables stable

FT ONLINE

Pricy chilli is ruling the capital’s kitchen markets along with onions. However, vegetable prices have remained stable as in the previous week. 

In some cases, the prices have even fallen in the wake of increasing supply.

Chilli was being offered at Tk. 130-150 a kg yesterday. But it had been selling for Tk. 40-50 during Ramadan.

Meanwhile, onions, which had been selling for Tk. 40-45 a kg throughout last week, was available for Tk. 50 yesterday. Imported Indian onions sold for Tk. 30-35 per kg as against Tk. 25-30 kg last week. The price of garlic too witnessed a slight rise, with imported garlic being sold for Tk. 3-4 a kg.

Traders said onion supplies were low and a group of businessmen were stocking the vegetable. Both these factors forced a price hike, they added.

On the sudden rise in chilli prices, one of the traders said the supply was inadequate.

He said the price might increase further because of crop damage caused by rain. "Many of those who had cultivated in advance have suffered a complete wash-out. Because of this, the price of raw chilly is quite high," he added.

While visiting several kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar, this correspondent found the supply of most vegetables, such as potato, eggplant, snake gourd, and pointed gourd, to be normal. However, the price of tomatoes, which had been sold for Tk. 100-110 a kg last week, was slightly lower. In Karwanbazar, tomatoes sold for Tk. 70-80 per kg.

The prices of most vegetables, including tomatoes, declined this week. Potato was being sold for Tk. 30 a kg.

Most of the vegetables sold for less than Tk. 30. Bitter gourd, pointed gourd, and ridged gourd were among them. Pointed gourd and bitter gourd were being sold for Tk. 25-30.

Also, asparagus, beans, and okra recorded a fall of about Tk. 5-10 per kg.

Meanwhile, the price of papaya, which reached a high point before Eid, declined significantly.

The price of teasel gourd, which had earlier been priced at Tk. 70-80 a kg, was being sold for Tk. 40-45 yesterday.

Prices of red spinach, green spinach, jute leaves, red amaranth and water amaranth increased by Tk. 10-15.

Vendors said that the market was full of all kinds of vegetables and there was a sufficient supply of pointed gourds and eggplants. The increase in supply had reduced prices, they added.

A vegetable vendor told this reporter that the prices of vegetables had shot up after Eid amidst a shortage of supply. But improved supplies have done away with the shortage.

A customer told The Independent that this week vegetable prices were low, but chilli and onion prices were high. "Government officials do not monitor the irregularities," he alleged.

The price of eggs rose by Tk. 4 from Tk. 2 for four eggs. Grocers are currently selling four eggs for Tk. 30-34 at a time.

Meanwhile, prices of rice remained high throughout the week. Coarse rice was selling for Tk. 45-48 a kg and fine rice for Tk. 65-70 a kg.