Sunday | 6 October 2024 | Reg No- 06
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Sunday | 6 October 2024 | Epaper

High seed prices affect kitchen markets in Sirajganj

Published : Saturday, 30 December, 2023 at 12:00 AM  Count : 200
Ashok Benarjee
SIRAJGANJ, Dec 29: Consumers are purchasing winter vegetables at exorbitant prices in the district.

According to consumers, they become hostage to the traders who wilfully increase prices.

But traders said, they purchased vegetable seeds at higher prices and made cultivation at increased farming costs. That is why they have to adjust their total farming costs.

Soil of Sirajganj is very fertile and suitable for vegetables. The Chalanbeel part of the district is well known for vegetables. There are big bazaars of vegetables in the district.

According to farmers and others concerned, this year vegetable seed prices increased by 20-25 per cent.

At present, at different markets in the district per kilogram (kg) brinjal and okra are selling at Tk 80 each, pointed gourd at Tk 60, long bean at Tk 70, bitter gourd at Tk 80, papaya at Tk 30, arum lube at Tk 50, carrot at Tk 60-70, bean at Tk 60, green chilli at Tk 100-120, and bottle gourd at Tk 70 per piece.

Per piece cabbage is selling at Tk 50, cauliflower at Tk 40-50, per kg tomato at Tk 90, radish at Tk 30-40 per kg, and ridge gourd at Tk 80 per kg.   

New potato is selling at Tk 60-70 per kg, local tuber onion at Tk 100-110, imported onion at Tk 140-160.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), this season vegetables have been cultivated on 8,570 hectares of land in the district.

A customer Abu Sayed said, "In fact, we, the customers, are hostage. Vegetables are regular items. There is no control in markets. No stability."

A vegetable grower of Saguna Village in Tarash Upazila Somsher Ali, 55, said, he cultivates different vegetables on 20 decimal lands every year; but this years vegetable seed prices are higher by 20-25 per cent at Tarash bazaars, compared to last years.

Because of higher seed prices and increased cost of other things, this year vegetable prices will go up, he added.
According to market sources, at present imported radish seeds are selling at Tk 4,500 per kg against last years Tk 4,000.

Per kg local chilli seeds in packet form is selling at Tk 600 against last years 500-520 while imported one is selling at Tk 3,000 against last years 2,000-2,200.

Imported bitter gourd seeds are selling at Tk 24,000 against last years 21,000-22,000. Per kg imported cauliflower seeds are selling at about Tk 62,000 against last years Tk 57,000.

Per 100 gram hybrid papaya seeds are selling at Tk 4,100 against last years 3,600. Hybrid chilli seeds are selling at Tk 38,000 to 40,000 against last years 33,000 per kg.

Local bean seeds are selling at Tk 800 against last years Tk 700, and local brinjal seeds at Tk 600 against last years Tk 500. Per kg local spinach seeds are selling at Tk 180, higher by Tk 30 than last years.

Per maund seed potatoes are selling at Tk 2,400 against last years Tk 2,000, and local onion seeds at Tk 2,700 against last years Tk 2,500.

But the highest price hike is going with garlic seeds. Per kg garlic seeds are selling at Tk 8,000 against last years Tk 4,500, higher by about 78 per cent.

Mamunul Islam Pappu, proprietor of Dhaka Seed Store along Dhaka Road in the town, said, despite good quality of local seeds, farmers show interest in getting imported seeds.  

"Due to increased prices, sellers in a compelling condition are purchasing seeds at higher prices and selling those at higher prices," he added.

Deputy Director of the DAE Bablu Kumar Sutradhar said, imported vegetable seeds are brought from India, Thailand, China, and other countries.

Seeds available from Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation are of good quality and fair price, and these sprout well, he added.

He further said, farmers interest in imported seeds need to be reduced. Farmers are advised of using local vegetable seeds, he maintained.

Additional Director of the DAE Mashkar Ali said, prices of imported seeds increased comparatively, but the local ones did not increase much.

If good quality local seeds are cultivated, no problem will appear, he added.

He further said, the seed import dependency has come down a bit. If seed supply is made according to the demand, this crisis and un-control situation will be no longer.



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