TDS Desk:

An increase in supply has led to a decline in the prices of vegetables, potatoes, and onions. However, citing supply shortages, the markets for rice and oil have become even more volatile.

A market survey conducted on Friday (January 31) at Aganagar and Jinjira in Keraniganj, as well as Karwan Bazar and several other markets in the capital, revealed this trend.

With mid-winter approaching, the supply of seasonal vegetables in the capital’s markets has increased further. Vendors are displaying a wide variety of vegetables, leading to a decrease in the prices of most, though a few have fluctuated.

In the market, eggplant is being sold at 40-50 BDT per kilogram, bitter gourd at 40 BDT, yardlong beans at 50 BDT, radish at 15-20 BDT, water spinach stems at 50 BDT, and pointed gourd at 30-40 BDT.

Papaya, carrot, and tomato are priced at 30 BDT, with tomatoes ranging between 30-40 BDT. Hyacinth bean and turnip are available at 20 BDT per kilogram, green peas at 100 BDT, and cucumber at 30 BDT per kilogram.

Herbs and leafy greens are also seeing varied prices. Coriander leaves are priced at 20-30 BDT per kilogram, onion stalks at 20-25 BDT, and onions with stalks are selling for 30 BDT per kilogram.

Cauliflower costs around 20-25 BDT per piece, cabbage at 25-30 BDT, broccoli at 30-40 BDT, and bottle gourd is available for 40-50 BDT per piece.

Roni, a vegetable vendor at Aganagar Market in Keraniganj, said that due to the influx of winter vegetables, prices are dropping. While this benefits consumers, it has become a challenge for farmers and traders.

The price of green chilies has also decreased, with retail prices ranging from 40-50 BDT per kilogram, while the wholesale rate stands at 30-40 BDT. Various leafy greens, such as red spinach, Malabar spinach, bottle gourd leaves, radish leaves, water spinach, fenugreek leaves, and spinach, are being sold at 10-30 BDT per bunch.

The downward trend in vegetable prices is also visible in the potato and onion markets. New potatoes are selling at 20-25 BDT per kilogram in retail markets, while in wholesale markets, prices are 18-20 BDT per kilogram and in warehouses, 16 BDT per kilogram.

Retailers and warehouse traders mentioned that with an increase in the supply of new potatoes, prices have come within consumers’ reach. Warehouse prices have dropped to 16 BDT per kilogram, whereas last month, they were much higher.

Onion prices have also dropped, with old local onions being sold at 85-100 BDT per kilogram, new ‘murikata’ onions at 45-50 BDT, and imported onions at 65-70 BDT. In wholesale markets, ‘murikata’ onions are priced at 40-44 BDT per kilogram, while Indian onions are being sold at 60-62 BDT per kilogram.

Consumers have expressed relief over the decline in vegetable, potato, and onion prices.

They believe that increasing imports and regular market monitoring can help bring prices down, thereby easing the burden on ordinary consumers.

However, the instability in the rice market has not subsided. Miniket rice is being sold at 80 BDT per kilogram, Atash at 58-60 BDT, coarse Swarna at 52-56 BDT, Nazirshail at 76-82 BDT, and polao rice at 116-118 BDT per kilogram.

Al Hasib, a seller at Barishal Rice Agency in Karwan Bazar, mentioned that instead of decreasing, rice prices are rising. If mill-level monitoring is not increased, prices may continue to rise.

The oil market faces similar instability. Despite a month passing since the price hike, the artificial shortage of bottled soybean oil persists.

Consumers complain that although five-liter bottles are somewhat available, one- and two-liter bottles are scarce. When available, they are being sold at higher-than-fixed prices.

Interestingly, loose soybean oil is being sold at a higher price than bottled ones, with loose oil priced between 175 to 180 BDT per kilogram, despite being readily available.

Retailers acknowledge this market instability, stating that companies are not supplying enough oil. Additionally, consumers are often forced to buy other products when purchasing oil, leading to a partial supply crisis.

Moreover, there is an ongoing attempt to raise the price of soybean oil again. On December 9, after an eight BDT increase per liter, the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association recently sent a letter to the Ministry of Commerce to request another price hike.

Both consumers and sellers demand regular market monitoring to control the prices of daily essentials. Consumers argue that a lack of regular market monitoring allows sellers to increase prices at will.

On the other hand, sellers claim that a few unscrupulous traders are responsible for hiking prices, and regular market inspections could curb their activities.