Torrential rain, floods drive up kitchen item prices

Torrential rain and flash floods have disrupted the supply of essential food items, causing sharp price increases in Dhaka's major kitchen markets and adding to the financial strain on consumers, particularly low- and fixed-income families.

According to a random field survey, flood-related supply disruptions have driven up prices of vegetables, fish, eggs and other essentials, putting intense pressure on household budgets.

While talking to this correspondent of The Daily Observer on Friday, wholesale and retail sellers at different markets said persistent rainfall and flooding across almost all parts of the country have severely disrupted the supply of agricultural produce, pushing up prices of vegetables, fish, eggs, onions, green chilies and other daily essentials in Dhaka's kitchen markets.

Prices of many essential items have risen sharply over the past week, increasing the cost of living for low- and fixed-income households. Traders attributed the price hikes to reduced supplies caused by the downpour and supply-chain disruptions, mainly because of flooded roads, while consumers said the rising food costs were making it harder to manage household expenses.

Many shoppers said they are struggling to buy their usual quantities because of the sudden price surge.

At Taltola market, trader Enamul Hossain said green chilies were selling at Tk280-300 per kg, up from Tk200 just two days earlier. Before the recent heavy rain and floods, the same product was available at Tk100-120 per kg.

"The wholesale price has gone up significantly because supplies have declined," he said.

Outside the market, vendors were selling green chilies at Tk70 per quarter-kg, equivalent to Tk280 per kg.

Shopper Zahurul Islam expressed frustration over the sharp rise in prices, saying, "Just a few days ago, I could buy 250 grams of green chilies for Tk30. Now Tk30 buys only 100 grams. Prices increase overnight in this country," he said.

Except for papaya, selling at Tk40 per kg, and pointed gourd (potol) at Tk60 per kg, almost no vegetable was available below Tk80 per kg.

At Rampura market, eggplant was selling at Tk100-150 per kg, ridge gourd and snake gourd at Tk80-100, bitter gourd at Tk120, while cucumber and carrots were selling at Tk120 and Tk140 per kg.

Only a few days ago, onions were selling at Tk35-40 per kg, while street vendors offered three kilograms for Tk100. Now, good-quality onions are retailing at Tk60 per kg, while medium-sized varieties are selling for Tk50-55 per kg.

At the wholesale level, a five-kilogram lot of premium-quality onions was selling for Tk260-280, compared with Tk200-220 a week earlier.