Vegetable prices go up in Meherpur kitchen markets

MEHERPUR, July 27: Due to the continuous rains and adverse weather conditions, the prices of almost all types of vegetables have increased in the district. 

A visit to various kitchen markets in the district on Sunday showed that the prices of most vegetables have increased by Tk 25 to 30 per kg. During a visit to the Meherpur Boro Bazar, it was seen that due to the price hike, many people couldn’t buy the necessary vegetables and some were returning empty-handed.

On the ground, it was seen that the rains have had the greatest impact on the green chilli and brinjal markets. Per kg green chilli is selling at Tk 200 to 220 and brinjal at Tk 100 to 120. In addition, per kg carrot is selling at Tk 120, tomato at Tk 160, cucumber at Tk 80, yam at Tk 70 and kakrol at Tk 70. Except for a handful of ones, there are hardly any vegetables selling below Tk 50 in the market.

Mamlat Hossain, a shopper who came to the Boro Bazar said, “It has become difficult for people like us with fixed incomes to do their household shopping.”

Buyer Ramjanul Karim said, “In a district where so many vegetables are produced, the sudden increase in prices has made it difficult for people with fixed incomes like us to do shopping.”

Sajedur Rahman, a trader at Miarul Sabzi Bhandar said, “There is no chance of reducing prices in the wholesale market until supply normalises.”

Vegetable retailer Saloar Hossain said, “We are buying vegetables from the warehouses at a higher price. So we are forced to sell them at a higher price. 

Whereas earlier we used to sell 3 to 4 maunds of vegetables a day, now people have reduced their purchases. If the daily goods are not sold during the day, we have to bear more losses.”

The same picture was seen in the markets of Gangni and Mujibnagar upazilas of the district. Traders said that the supply crisis has arisen due to the disruption of vegetable production due to rainfall and adverse weather.

District CAB President Rafiqul Alam said, “Due to floods in many districts of the country, the supply of goods in the local market has decreased.” However, after talking to farmers and traders, it has been known that the current prices will decrease if the floods and heavy rainfall stop.