Prices fall as early winter vegetables arrive in Dhaka kitchen mkts

The supply of early winter vegetables is steadily increasing across kitchen markets in Dhaka, driving down prices for several seasonal items and offering some relief to consumers.

Visits to markets in Agargaon, Sheorapara, Kazipara, and Mirpur on Friday (November 13) revealed a growing abundance of cauliflowers, cabbages, radishes, and new potatoes. However, while prices for key items have eased, essentials like tomatoes and eggplants remain expensive.

Large cauliflowers and cabbages are selling for Tk 50 each, while small and medium sizes range between Tk 30 and Tk 35—down from Tk 60 to Tk 70 last week. Radishes are priced at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg, beans (shim) at Tk 60 to Tk 70, and eggplants at Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg. Other vegetables such as okra, snake gourd, and ridge gourd are retailing around Tk 60 per kg, with yardlong beans at Tk 80.

New potatoes have dropped by Tk 30 to Tk 120 per kg, down from Tk 150 to Tk 160 a week ago, though older potatoes remain cheap at Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg. Green chilies have also become more affordable, dropping to Tk 60 to Tk 80 per kg from Tk 120.

Meanwhile, new local tomatoes are selling for Tk 120 to Tk 130 per kg due to limited early-season supply, and imported varieties range from Tk 110 to Tk 120.

Leafy greens are widely available, with bunches of spinach and red amaranth priced at Tk 20 to Tk 25, bottle gourd leaves at Tk 40, radish and mustard greens at Tk 15, puishak at Tk 20 to Tk 30, stem amaranth at Tk 20, and water spinach at Tk 10.

Beyond vegetables, broiler chickens are selling for Tk 170 to Tk 180 per kg, down from Tk 190 to Tk 200 over recent months, while layer chickens are priced at Tk 230 to Tk 240. Brown farm eggs have also dropped by Tk 10 to Tk 150 per dozen.

However, the fish market remains elevated. Rui fish is selling between Tk 250 and Tk 350 per kg depending on size, tilapia at Tk 200, shrimp at Tk 600 to Tk 800, and Pabda fish at Tk 400 to Tk 500 per kg.

Traders noted that prices fluctuate based on wholesale supply and seasonal transitions. As more winter crops reach the capital in the coming weeks, vendors expect prices for remaining high-cost produce to decline further.

-SA