Vegetable prices have fallen in Dinajpur markets as supplies of early winter produce increase, bringing relief to consumers but leaving farmers worried about recovering production costs.
Prices of some vegetables have dropped by up to Tk30 per kg compared with last week. The trend was observed at Bahadur Bazar and other kitchen markets in Dinajpur town.
Supplies of winter vegetables, including red amaranth, spinach, radish greens, cabbage, cauliflower, beans, radish, carrots, tomatoes, turnips, beetroot, and capsicum, have increased significantly.
Imported green chillies are selling for Tk90-100 per kg, while locally produced chillies cost Tk130-140, down Tk20-30 from last week.
Potatoes are selling for Tk16-30 per kg depending on variety, onions Tk40-45, eggplants Tk50-70, beans Tk150-160, carrots Tk140, tomatoes Tk120 and radishes Tk60.
A wax gourd costs Tk40 each, bananas Tk30 per four, while cauliflower and cabbage are selling for Tk150 and Tk60 respectively.
Vendors at Bahadur Bazar said early vegetable production had been bumper across the district, increasing wholesale supplies and pushing prices down. They said they were buying at lower prices and selling with small profit margins. They expect prices to fall further as winter sets in.
Consumers said the lower prices had reduced their household spending on vegetables. The fall in potato prices has also brought relief to consumers, although importers and traders are facing losses. Farmers, however, are concerned about the price decline.
Several growers in Ghughudanga of Sadar upazila and different areas of Phulbari upazila said favourable weather had resulted in good yields, but current market prices were making it difficult to recover production costs. They fear prices could fall further during the peak season, causing substantial losses.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension in Dinajpur, the district set a target of cultivating early winter vegetables on more than 7,150 hectares across 13 upazilas this season.
Favourable weather has led to cultivation on more land than targeted, while overall production has also exceeded expectations.