Photo : Messenger
The uprising tendency witnessed in all sorts of vegetable markets at the beginning of the month of Ramadan seems to have dimmed now. Within a matter of days, the prices of every vegetable have fallen, ranging from Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kilogram. However, it's noteworthy that potatoes and meat are being sold at prices significantly exceeding the fixed rates.
Meanwhile, following the news of India's halt in onion exports, prices have surged by approximately 10 to 20 taka within just a week. Unfortunately, this escalation isn't limited to onions alone; there's been no respite in the prices of other essential commodities, including pulses, oil, and sugar.
Furthermore, a visit to various meat markets in the capital on Friday (March 29) revealed a concerning trend. Since the onset of fasting, prices across all types of meat, including beef, chicken, and mutton, have been on the rise. Initially, beef was being sold at Tk 750 per kilogram, but it commands Tk 780 on Friday. Additionally, mutton is now priced at Tk 1100 per kilogram. Similarly, the price of broiler chicken, which was stable at Tk 220 per kilogram for a while, has now surged to Tk 240.
After conducting surveys across various vegetable markets, it's evident that at the start of the fasting period, prices were notably higher. For instance, a kilogram of brinjal was priced between 80 to 100 taka, whereas now it is being sold for 40 to 50 taka per kilogram. Similarly, cucumber, which was priced at over 100 taka per kilogram initially, is now available for 40 to 60 taka per kilogram. Additionally, the prices of other vegetables such as gourd, papaya, sweet pumpkin, shrimp, snake gourd, and bitter gourd have witnessed a decline by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kilogram compared to last week.
According to a seller named Ruhul Amin at Hatirpool market, told the Daily Messenger, he anticipates a gradual decline in the availability of vegetables in the market. With each passing day, the population of Dhaka is expected to dwindle as people return to their villages for Eid celebrations. Consequently, this exodus is likely to contribute to a reduction in vegetable prices. Currently, in Mokams (wholesale market), the prices of vegetables are decreasing steadily on a daily basis.
However, it has been noticed that the onion market has experienced a downward trend over the past few weeks. At the beginning of this month, the price of onions, which was at 120 taka per kilogram, plummeted to 60 taka. This decline was attributed to the news of official onion imports from India and the introduction of new onion varieties in the market. However, just before the elections, India once again imposed an indefinite ban on onion exports on March 23 in an attempt to stabilise the market.
Traders seized the opportunity presented by the ban and hiked onion prices in the capital market. Within a matter of days, the price of onions surged by up to Tk 20 per kilogram, reaching levels between Tk 70 to Tk 80.
Meanwhile, in the potato market, prices have also seen an upward trajectory. Initially, there was a moderate increase of 5 taka per kilogram. However, over the course of a month, prices skyrocketed further, jumping by 12 to 15 taka. This surge follows a significant drop in potato prices about a month ago when they fell from Tk 28 to Tk 30 per kilogram. Despite experiencing a slight increase last week, potatoes were being sold at Tk 35 to Tk 40. Presently, prices have surged to Tk 40 to Tk 45 per kilogram.
During the fasting period, the price of beef has been steadily increasing. Initially, beef was available at Tk 750 per kilogram in certain areas, but now it is predominantly being sold at Tk 780 per kilogram. Furthermore, the price of mutton has reached Tk 1100 per kilogram.
Rakib Hasan, a trader at Malibag kitchen market in the capital, told the Daily Messenger that although there has been a slight decrease in chicken prices compared to last week, it is unlikely to decrease any further. This is because farmers claim that their production costs are high. Hasan emphasised that they can lower prices if retailers offer lower rates, but ultimately, their hands are tied in this regard.
Messenger/Fameema
