Flood fuels vegetable price hike

The production and supply of vegetables across the country have been disrupted due to heavy rain and flood. As a result, the prices of vegetables in the capital have jumped steeply.

Wholesalers and retail sellers said many vegetable firms in Dhaka and its surrounding areas and North Bengal were damaged owing to flood, which caused the price hike.

Per kg eggplant was being sold at Tk70-80, which was at Tk45-55 a month ago in markets in Dhaka city.

Green banana's price has soared from Tk20-25 to Tk35-40 per kg, while papaya was sold at Tk40-45 per kg.

The price of per kg yardlong bean was Tk70-90, snake gourd was Tk50-60, kachur lati (Arum-lobe) was Tk60-65, patal (pointed gourd) and okra were Tk40-45, spiny gourd was Tk60, and arum Tk70-75.

M Habib, a vegetable seller in the Gudaraghat area, said "Many vegetables have become scarce amid the flood, so prices have increased."

Mostafa Kamal, owner of a vegetable storehouse in Karwan Bazar, said, "I need two trucks of vegetables every day, but now I do not even get one truck full. The flood has dealt a severe blow."

Vegetable sellers said people are losing their jobs or earning less amid the pandemic, while flood has worsened the situation. The hike of price is affecting the low-income people severely.

M Wasim, a private sector employee, said, "The novel coronavirus pandemic has slashed my earning by 30 percent, while expenses have increased because of the flood. Whatever vegetable I want to buy, I cannot do it at less than Tk50-60."

Meanwhile, the price of hilsa fish is giving a little comfort to the buyers, as it has become abundant in the fish markets.

Ilish weighing 1kg was being sold at Tk850-900, 750-800 gram was at Tk650-750, and 500 gram at Tk400-450.