Torrential rain pushes up kitchen item prices in Dhaka

Torrential rainfall across Bangladesh has begun to push up the prices of vegetables, eggs and several other kitchen essentials in the capital as traders cite weather-induced crop damage and transport disruptions for reduced supplies.

While most vegetables became costlier over the past week, with green chilli recording the sharpest increase, consumers questioned the justification for the price hikes, arguing that markets remain well stocked despite claims of supply shortages.

While talking to this correspondent, traders said the persistent raining across the country has started to affect kitchen markets, disrupting the supply of fresh produce and driving up the prices of vegetables, eggs and other daily essentials in Dhaka, and they passed the blame over the crop damage and transport disruptions. But consumers say the price hikes are unjustified as markets remain well stocked despite claims of supply shortages.

A visit to several retail markets in the capital on Friday found that prices of most vegetables have increased over the past week, with green chilli recording the sharpest rise. Egg prices also moved up, while chicken, beef and mutton prices remained largely unchanged.

According to traders, vegetable fields in different parts of the country have been affected by heavy rainfall, while poor road conditions have slowed the transportation of produce to Dhaka, reducing market arrivals.

However, consumers questioned the explanation, saying there is no visible shortage of vegetables. "Every shop is full of vegetables, yet we have to pay higher prices," said a customer at a kitchen market.

Market observations showed bitter gourd selling at Tk 60-80 per kg, okra Tk 50-60, pointed gourd (potol) Tk 60-80, taro corm Tk 80-100, yardlong beans Tk 60-80, taro stems Tk 80-100, snake gourd Tk 60 and hybrid sponge gourd Tk 60 per kg. Drumsticks were selling at Tk 160-200 per kg.

Brinjal prices increased by around Tk 20 per kg over the week, with different varieties retailing at Tk 80-120 per kg. Tomatoes were selling at Tk 180-220 per kg, radish at Tk 70, cauliflower at Tk 60-70 per piece, cabbage at Tk 60 and bottle gourd at Tk 60-80 each.

Green chilli recorded the biggest jump, increasing by Tk 40 per kg to Tk 140-160.
Among other items, green papaya was selling at Tk 50 per kg, sweet pumpkin at Tk 40, local cucumber at Tk 100, hybrid cucumber at Tk 60, potatoes at Tk 25-30 and locally produced onions at Tk 40 per kg.

Lemons were selling at Tk 15-30 per four-piece bunch, local coriander leaves at Tk 250 per kg, hybrid coriander at Tk 180, green bananas at Tk 40 per four-piece bunch, ash gourd at Tk 60 each and capsicum at Tk 350 per kg. Red spinach was selling at Tk 15 per bunch, bottle gourd leaves at Tk 40, Malabar spinach at Tk 40, while water spinach and amaranth were priced at Tk 20 and Tk 30 respectively for two bunches.

A dozen farm eggs were selling at Tk 120, while duck eggs were priced at Tk 180 per dozen. Native chicken eggs were selling at Tk 100 per four-piece set and Sonali cock eggs at Tk 70.

Chicken prices remained stable, with Sonali cock selling at Tk 330 per kg, Sonali hybrid at Tk 300, red layer at Tk 340, broiler at Tk 165 and native chicken at Tk 700 per kg. Beef was selling at Tk 780-800 per kg and mutton at Tk 1,300.

Fish prices also remained high. Hilsa was selling at Tk 1,100-1,200 per kg for 300-gram fish and Tk 1,800-2,000 for larger fish weighing 500-700 grams. Rohu sold at Tk 400-550 per kg, farmed shing Tk 300-600, native shing Tk 1,200-1,400, native magur Tk 900-1,200, mrigel Tk 350-450, farmed pangas Tk 180-200, shrimp Tk 800-1,400, boal Tk 600-800, catla Tk 400-550, pabda Tk 400-450, tilapia Tk 200, koi Tk 200-220, mola Tk 500, batashi tengra Tk 1,400, tengra Tk 500-800, kachki Tk 400 and mixed small fish Tk 220 per kg.

Traders warn the prices can remain elevated if the ongoing rainfall continues to disrupt harvesting and transportation in the coming days.