Long holiday and arrival of winter vegetables bring relief to kitchen markets; egg prices fall too

Winter vegetables — beans, cauliflower and radish — have arrived in the capital's kitchen markets, left relatively empty during the long holiday. The arrival of winter produce has pushed down the prices of some vegetables. With supply exceeding the number of buyers, a measure of relief has returned to the markets. The price of eggs, the cheap source of protein for low-income people, has also fallen compared with last week.

This picture emerged from visits to several markets in the capital on Friday (23 October).

At Basabo market, cauliflower, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, taro and pointed gourd are selling at Tk 80 per kg. Brinjal and spiny gourd also cost Tk 80 per kg. Early winter varieties of radish and okra are priced at Tk 70 per kg. But buyers must pay Tk 120 per kg for early beans, while tomatoes sell at Tk 140 per kg.

Papaya and sweet pumpkin are available at comparatively low prices — papaya at Tk 30 per kg and sweet pumpkin at Tk 50. Cauliflower and cabbage, however, sell at Tk 70 per piece.

Green chillies sell at Tk 120 to 140 per kg depending on quality. Bottle gourd costs Tk 30 to 40 per piece, and taro is sold at Tk 80 per kg.

Vegetable buyer Asif Iqbal said: 'The cheap vegetables in the market are bottle gourd and papaya. The expensive ones are tomato and beans. Prices have fallen somewhat since winter vegetables arrived.'

Chicken prices have barely changed. Broiler chicken sells at Tk 185 per kg in the capital's markets and Sonali chicken at Tk 310.

Broiler seller Dilal said: 'For the past few weeks chicken prices have stayed between Tk 180 and 190. It falls by Tk 10 one week and rises by Tk 10 another. Overall the price stays around Tk 200. Sonali stays between Tk 310 and 320. Today I am selling at Tk 310 per kg.'

Egg prices have fallen by Tk 10 per dozen. Brown eggs sell at Tk 140 per dozen and white eggs at Tk 130. Eggs are also sold at Tk 46 per hali (four pieces).

Hanif Sheikh, owner of Alia Traders in Shantinagar, said: 'Egg prices fluctuate every day. Today I am selling brown eggs at Tk 140 a dozen and white at Tk 130. Last week I sold at Tk 150 a dozen too.'

Beef continues to sell at Tk 800 per kg, as before.

In the fish market, tilapia sells at Tk 250–300, pangas at Tk 200–250, catla at Tk 350–800 and prawns at Tk 800–1,100 per kg. Pabda is available at Tk 350–400, rui at Tk 450–500 and tengra at Tk 700. Bhetki costs Tk 400–550, mrigel Tk 250–300, baim Tk 600–800, local koi Tk 700–800, farmed koi Tk 300, poa Tk 260 and shoil Tk 700. Farmed shing sells at Tk 300–450 depending on size.

Rupchanda, shol and river bele fish cost more than a thousand taka. Fish prices depend on size and on whether the fish is alive or dead, and may vary by Tk 10 to 20 per kg from market to market.

Fish seller Shah Alam said: 'Fish prices are the same as before. On Friday mornings prices are a bit higher; they fall again in the afternoon. Fish prices always depend on demand and supply, and also on whether the fish is alive or dead.'

Overall, lower buyer pressure during the long holiday and increased supply of winter vegetables have brought a breeze of relief to the capital's kitchen markets. Buyers and sellers hope that once winter sets in fully, vegetable supply will rise further and prices may drop more.