Winter veggies bring relief to consumers

Prices of vegetables have started declining in the capital's kitchen markets as supplies of early winter varieties increase alongside the availability of summer vegetables, bringing some relief to consumers.

Over the past week, prices of several vegetables have dropped by Tk 10 to Tk 20 per kg. Meanwhile, increased supplies of hilsa have helped keep fish prices relatively stable, although chicken continues to sell at high prices.

A visit to several kitchen markets, including Agargaon, Shewrapara and Kazipara, on Friday revealed the trend.

Cauliflowers were selling for Tk 40-50 a piece in some markets, down from Tk 60-70 last week. New potatoes were available at Tk 120-150 per kg in Agargaon, while the price was Tk 60 in Shewrapara and Kazipara. Old potatoes were selling for Tk 20-25 per kg.

Beans were priced at Tk 40-50 per kg, down from Tk 60-70 a week ago. Radishes were selling for Tk 40, bottle gourds at Tk 30-40 apiece and small cabbages at Tk 20-30 a piece.

Green chilli prices also declined, selling for Tk 60-80 per kg, compared with a reduction of Tk 20 over the week in some markets. Tomatoes were available at Tk 80-130 per kg, while carrots were selling for Tk 120-130.

Other vegetables included pointed gourds, okra and snake gourds at Tk 50-60 per kg, eggplants at Tk 60-80, cucumbers at Tk 60-70, yardlong beans at Tk 60-80 and pumpkins at Tk 40-50.

Papayas were selling for Tk 15-20 per kg, potatoes at Tk 25 and onions at Tk 45-50. Capsicums were priced at Tk 300 per kg.

Al Amin, a vegetable vendor at Shewrapara market, said prices of almost all vegetables had declined by Tk 10-20 per kg over the past week due to increased supplies. However, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers remained relatively expensive.

Meanwhile, chicken prices remained unchanged at relatively high levels. Sonali cock chicken was selling for Tk 330 per kg, Sonali hybrid at Tk 290, red layer chicken at Tk 330, broiler at Tk 180 and local chicken at Tk 670.

The fish market remained relatively stable as supplies of hilsa increased. Hilsa weighing around 1 kg was selling for Tk 2,300-2400 apiece, while 500-gram hilsa was priced at Tk 1,200-1,400 per kg.