Beans at 15 taka wholesale sell for 80 in Manikganj retail markets as vegetable prices triple in transit

Winter vegetables have begun arriving in markets in larger supply, but ordinary buyers in Manikganj are not feeling the benefit. Vegetables sold relatively cheaply at wholesale are multiplying in price several times over by the time they reach retail stalls.

The picture emerged on Friday morning (November 13) during visits to the large wholesale produce depot at Jagir in Manikganj and the retail market in the bus stand area. Along the long commercial chain from production to retail sale, most of the profit goes to intermediaries — marginal farmers are deprived of a fair price while buyers are squeezed by higher prices.

At the Jagir wholesale market, most winter vegetables were selling at 15 to 20 taka per kilogram. Green chillies were 20 to 40 taka, cauliflower 15 to 20 taka, cabbage 15 to 20 taka, beans 15 to 20 taka, aubergine 15 to 20 taka, potatoes 15 to 20 taka and radish 10 to 15 taka per kilogram, with bulk purchases slightly cheaper.

At the same wholesale market, bitter gourd was selling at 40 to 50 taka, sweet pumpkin at 20 to 22 taka and tomatoes at 90 taka per kilogram. Cucumber was 22 to 25 taka, coriander leaves 70 to 80 taka, pointed gourd 18 to 20 taka, carrots 50 to 60 taka, onions 35 to 40 taka, ginger 130 taka and garlic 70 to 80 taka per kilogram. A bottle gourd sold for 15 to 20 taka apiece.

The same day, the retail market at the Manikganj bus stand area showed a completely different picture: green chillies at 60 to 80 taka, cauliflower at 30 to 40 taka, cabbage at 50 to 60 taka, cucumber at 60 to 80 taka, tomatoes at 140 taka, coriander at 120 taka, beans at 60 to 80 taka, aubergine at 40 to 50 taka and potatoes at 20 taka per kilogram.

Retail prices also included onions at 40 to 45 taka, garlic at 100 to 180 taka, pointed gourd at 60 taka, carrots at 80 to 120 taka, ginger at 160 taka, radish at 30 taka, bitter gourd at 80 taka and sweet pumpkin at 40 taka per kilogram. A bottle gourd sold for 60 taka apiece.

The widest gaps between the two markets were in green chillies, beans, carrots, garlic, coriander and tomatoes. Beans at 15 to 20 taka wholesale sold at 60 to 80 taka retail, carrots at 50 to 60 taka wholesale sold at 80 to 120 taka, and a bottle gourd priced at 15 to 20 taka wholesale sold for 60 taka apiece at retail.

With market prices low, farmers say they cannot recover production costs. Aslam, who grew cauliflower on about 10 bighas of land, said: 'It cost roughly five lakh taka to grow cauliflower on about 10 bighas. But the yield was low. Now I can get at most two to two and a half lakh taka by selling the crop. In a market like this, there is nothing more we can do.'

Radish grower Jasim said: 'I grew radish on two and a half to three bighas. Labour, seed, pesticide and fertiliser together cost two to two and a half lakh taka. One kilogram of seed alone cost six thousand taka. Buying fertiliser was also a severe hardship — it has to be collected standing in a queue. The yield is a little lower than last year. I may get at most one lakh taka from selling the crop. There will be a loss of about one and a half lakh taka.'

Retail traders say high purchase prices and transport costs force them to sell at higher prices. Retailer Khorshed Alam said: 'I bought the vegetables from the market at a good price. But because transport costs are high, we have to sell at a higher price. And we need to make a little profit. If we don't make a profit, how will we survive?'

Buyers are frustrated too. Private-sector employee Saud Palash said vegetable prices are moving beyond the reach of middle-class families, that his salary is spent on groceries, and that because his pay is low he has to buy smaller quantities.

Asaduzzaman Rumel, assistant director of the Manikganj district office of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, said the office monitors the market regularly to keep prices of daily essentials stable, and that anyone found cheating buyers dishonestly would face action under consumer rights law.