Vegetable supply plenty, still dearer

Already grappling with inflated prices, Dhaka city residents had been waiting for winter vegetables to arrive in the market. The agri-produce has started coming to the market with the onset of the chilly weather, but customers are still paying through the nose for vegetables.

Beans have been in the market for at least one month. The vegetable was at Tk120-150 per kilogram in the beginning; it is now at Tk45-60. But many shoppers said the item should be less pricey, lower even than the current rate.

"Beans are usually sold at Tk30-35, but I had to buy it today at Tk50," said Shafiul Islam, a customer at Merul Badda kitchen market.

Customers at several wholesale and retail markets expressed similar feelings. They say not only beans, but other vegetables are also dearer now compared to winter last year.  

For instance, one kilogram of tomatoes costs people Tk80-120, depending on the quality and market. But the price was around Tk30 last winter.

Medium-sized cauliflowers were at Tk30-35 per piece, green tomatoes at Tk50-55 per kg, a medium-size gourd at Tk45-60, brinjals at Tk50-60 per kg, newly harvested potatoes at Tk70-80 and papayas at Tk35-40 per kg.

In the meantime, many vegetables such as green beans and arum shoots have been selling above Tk50 per kg.

Anisur Rahman, a buyer who came to Karwan Bazar to purchase vegetables, told The Business Standard that he buys vegetables from the wholesale market in bulk in order to get those at lower prices.  

Anisur bought cauliflowers at Tk20 per piece from Karwan Bazar, which he said would cost him Tk35 if he bought them from the East Rajabazar kitchen market -- adjacent to his apartment.

When asked why prices were still inflated, Rampura vegetable trader Md Hannan told TBS that the items have just started arriving. The prices will decline further in a week.

In the meantime, visiting the wholesale markets, The Business Standard found no shortage of vegetables. Wholesalers said vegetable supply had reduced previously due to the pandemic-led crisis. But winter vegetables have counteracted most of the supply shortage. 

Like the retailers, wholesalers said vegetable prices will come down in the next 15-20 days.

"Prices of most items are falling fast due to adequate supply. But the supply of some items is still too low than the market demand," Mostafa Kamal, a vegetable wholesaler, claimed.