Winter vegetable prices fall in Dhaka markets, coarse rice up Tk 3 a kg in a week

Prices have begun to fall in Dhaka's markets as the supply of winter vegetables — beans, cauliflower, cabbage, radish and others — has increased. Coarse rice, however, has risen by Tk 3 a kg in the past week, to between Tk 50 and Tk 58.

The information came from visiting Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Town Hall Bazar and Agargaon Taltala Bazar in the capital on Thursday and speaking with buyers and sellers.

Sellers said winter has already begun to set in in different parts of the country, and it may take another 15 to 20 days for winter to arrive everywhere, including the capital Dhaka. Normally, once the winter season is fully under way, vegetable production and supply are higher, and prices fall comparatively.

Many farmers grow early vegetables in the hope of better profit. Those early winter vegetables — cauliflower, cabbage, radish and other kinds — have now begun arriving in the capital's markets, and their prices have started falling compared with before as supply has risen.

According to the government agency TCB, the price of coarse rice rose by Tk 3 a kg in the past week to Tk 50–58. In the same period, sugar rose by Tk 2 a kg to Tk 110–115.

The prices of broiler chicken and eggs have also fallen in the past two weeks. Broiler chicken had been selling at Tk 190–200 a kg for several months; in the last two weeks it has fallen by Tk 20 a kg to Tk 170–180.

Brown farm chicken eggs have also fallen by Tk 10 a dozen, selling at Tk 150.

On Thursday morning at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Tajul Islam, an employee of a private firm, was found with a medium-sized cauliflower and half a kg of beans in his shopping bag, which had cost him Tk 65 in total — Tk 35 for the cauliflower and Tk 30 for the half kg of beans. Adding half a kg of radish and a bunch of red spinach to that shopping would bring the cost to Tk 100.

The shop also had new local tomatoes and potatoes, but Tajul Islam did not buy them. Asked why, he said: ‘New tomatoes are Tk 140 a kg. And new potatoes are Tk 120 a kg. If I buy these, I won't be able to do the rest of the shopping. I'll buy them later, when the prices come down.’

Sellers said the supply of winter vegetables — beans, cauliflower, cabbage, radish and others — is increasing in the markets. These are early winter vegetables, which is why prices are somewhat high; they said prices will begin to fall as supply grows.

Prices of several vegetables have already fallen somewhat. A large cauliflower that cost Tk 60–70 two weeks ago sold for Tk 40–50 on Thursday. New potatoes have also fallen by Tk 30 a kg to Tk 120, though old potatoes are cheaper at just Tk 20–25 a kg.

Green chillies have fallen by Tk 40 a kg to Tk 60–80. New-season local tomatoes have begun reaching the market at Tk 120–130 a kg, while imported tomatoes sell for Tk 110–120. Other vegetables have remained stable at their previous prices.