Some relief has returned to the capital’s kitchen markets as prices of several vegetables have fallen amid increased supply, though high prices of eggplant, tomatoes and beans continue to keep overall market costs elevated.
Papaya is now the cheapest vegetable at Tk30 per kg, while pointed gourd, okra, spiny gourd, ridge gourd and jali are selling for around Tk60 per kg, according to visits to several markets in the capital on Friday.
Bitter gourd is selling for Tk70 per kg, while bottle gourd and snake gourd cost Tk80. Common cucumbers are available for Tk50-60 per kg, while local cucumbers are more expensive at Tk80-100.
However, eggplant and tomato prices remain high. Long eggplant is selling for Tk100 per kg, round eggplant for Tk120, and tomatoes for Tk120-140.
Beans are among the most expensive vegetables, with prices ranging from Tk180 to Tk200 per kg depending on the market.
Green chilli prices have also fallen somewhat amid increased supply and are now selling for Tk120-140 per kg, depending on quality.
Pintu Mia, a shopper, said the lower prices of some vegetables had brought some relief.
“Several vegetables are now within our reach, with different varieties available for Tk60-80. This has reduced our market expenses somewhat. However, some vegetables are still expensive,” he said.
Another shopper, Jewel Sheikh, said the overall cost of shopping had not fallen significantly despite lower prices for some vegetables.
“Papaya, pointed gourd, okra and ridge gourd are comparatively cheap. But if eggplant and tomato prices also fell, ordinary consumers would get more relief,” he said.
Traders attributed the decline in prices of some vegetables to increased supply, while saying limited supplies of eggplant and tomatoes were keeping their prices high.
Nasir Hossain, a vegetable seller at Rayshaheb Bazar, said the supply of pointed gourd, okra, ridge gourd and jali was currently good.
“We are selling these vegetables for around Tk60 per kg, while papaya is Tk30. But we have to buy eggplant and tomatoes at higher prices from wholesale markets, so we have to sell them at higher prices,” he said.
Nurul Islam, a seller at Narinda Kacha Bazar, said vegetables arriving in larger quantities had become cheaper.
“But the supply of eggplant and tomatoes is low, so there is little scope to reduce their prices,” he said.
Fish, meat and egg prices remain unchanged
Despite some relief in vegetable prices, the markets for fish, meat and eggs have remained largely unchanged over the past week.
Broiler chicken is selling for Tk190-200 per kg, while Sonali chicken costs Tk320-340.
Egg prices also remain high, with a dozen selling for Tk150 and four eggs for Tk50.
“Farm chicken eggs are now being sold for Tk150 per dozen,” said Masud, an egg seller.
Fish prices have also remained more or less unchanged. Tilapia is selling for Tk250-260 per kg, pangas Tk230-250, rohu and catla Tk380-420, and shrimp Tk1,000-1,300.
Pabda costs Tk350-400 per kg, large rohu Tk450-500 and tengra Tk700.
Vetki is selling for Tk400-550 per kg, mrigal Tk250-300, baim Tk600-800, local koi Tk700-800, farmed koi Tk300 and poa Tk260.
Farmed shing costs Tk300-450 per kg depending on size, while medium-sized rohu is selling for Tk300-350. Rupchanda, shol and river bele are priced at more than Tk1,000 per kg.
Fish seller Ujjal Hossain said prices fluctuate depending on supply and demand.
“Prices are lower when supply is high and rise when less fish arrives in the market. Similarly, prices increase when there are more buyers. So the price of the same fish can sometimes differ between morning and afternoon,” he said.
Aminul Islam, another shopper, said fish prices were still largely the same.
“Some fish are available at comparatively lower prices, but good-quality fish are much more expensive. It is becoming difficult to keep fish purchases within the family budget,” he said.
