Relief in Vegetables but Pressure Elsewhere: Lalmonirhat Buyers Squeezed by Rice, Lentil, Oil, Fish and Meat Prices

With early signs of winter, some early varieties of vegetables have begun arriving at Lalmonirhat’s kitchen markets. That has brought some relief in vegetables, but buyers are struggling as rice, lentils, oil, fish and meat remain expensive. The picture emerged on Saturday morning (24 October) during visits to several kitchen markets in the district.

Speaking to buyers and sellers, it was learned that prices of various vegetables and daily essentials have been unstable for the past few months. Food prices have risen further compared with last month.

Fine rice has risen from 58 taka to 64 taka per kilogram. Fine masoor lentils have risen from 140 taka to 142 taka, and soybean oil from 199 taka to 204 taka per litre.

Eggs have risen by 6 taka to 150 taka per dozen. The figures show that over the past three months, the prices of rice, oil, eggs and masoor lentils have risen by between 5 and 8 taka.

Fish and meat prices are also fluctuating. While small fish prices have stayed stable, larger fish such as tilapia, rui, grass carp and pangas have risen by 15 to 30 taka per kilogram.

Among chickens, broiler prices are somewhat stable, but Sonali and local chicken have risen by 15 to 20 taka per kilogram. Beef is still selling at 700 to 730 taka per kilogram. Local buyers and sellers say fish and meat prices have risen by 15 to 30 taka per kilogram over the past three months.

Vegetables, however, offer some relief. Potatoes and brinjals are selling at 20 taka per kilogram, onions at 45 taka and bitter gourd at 60 to 70 taka. Bottle gourds sell at 15 to 20 taka apiece depending on size.

Among the new winter vegetables arriving at market, cauliflower/cabbage is selling at 80 taka per kilogram. New beans, however, are pricey at 150 taka per kilogram.

When prices of kitchen-market and essential goods rise, the hardest hit are working-class low- and limited-income people. Their income is limited and fixed. Although the prices of rice, lentils, oil, fish, eggs and vegetables have risen, incomes have not risen in proportion, leaving them struggling to meet household expenses.

Low- and middle-income families are having to cut both the quantity and variety of food to run households on limited incomes. Some have stopped buying fish and meat, while others are running households on loans. The pressure of higher prices is affecting not only pockets but also family nutrition, children’s education and overall quality of life.

Chan Mia, an auto-rickshaw driver and buyer at Aditmari kitchen market, said: “We earn 400–500 taka driving an auto all day. From that, doing the daily shopping is a struggle. On top of that, meeting the children’s education and medical costs is very hard. We return home buying only vegetables and rice; we cannot afford fish and meat.”

Seller Nazrul Islam at the same market said market prices have been rising and falling for some days. Higher fuel prices have raised transport costs. Sometimes when production falls, supply also falls, forcing them to buy at higher prices and sell at higher prices. New vegetables in high demand also have to be bought and sold at higher prices. He said he sells at a profit of 5 to 10 taka per kilogram.

Iqbal Hossain, a buyer at Buri’s Bazar in Aditmari, said: “The vegetables we produce ourselves are cheap. But when we go to buy at the market, prices are high. We want there to be no syndicate from wholesale to retail. The government should monitor the market and keep balance.” Jasim Uddin, a chicken seller at Shial Khawa Bazar in Kaliganj, said feed prices have risen by 400 to 500 taka per sack, electricity bills and medicine prices have also risen; with production down, bringing chickens from distant farms is raising transport costs.

Touhid Liton, general secretary of CAB Lalmonirhat, said commodity prices in the district’s markets have risen excessively. In his view, the main causes are supply shortfalls and a lack of oversight. The government should reduce taxes and VAT on goods and keep prices under control through regular monitoring by a team led by an executive magistrate together with consumer-rights and food-safety officials.