Rain drives ‘slight’ hike in summer vegetables, chicken market remains stable

Continuous rainfall triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal has “slightly” pushed up vegetable prices in Dhaka markets, though chicken prices have remained stable.

On Friday, a visit to the capital’s kitchen markets showed that the supply of vegetables was largely adequate, despite some price hikes of Tk 10–20 per kg for select items over the past week.

Arman Hossain, a vegetable vendor at the Saat Tola kitchen market, told bdnews24.com: “It’s been raining for two to three days now. No goods arrived [on Tuesday].

“That’s why prices of some items have increased slightly. But most vegetables are still being sold at the previous rates.”

Among summer vegetables, aubergines, bitter gourd, and okra, which were selling at Tk 40 to 60 per kg last week, are now being sold at Tk 60 to 70 per kg.

Yardlong beans remained at Tk 60, while pointed gourd rose by Tk 10 to Tk 60.

Sponge gourd also went up by Tk 10 to Tk 60. Snake gourd was available at Tk 50, taro stem at Tk 70–80, teasel gourd at Tk 40, taro root at Tk 90–100, drumsticks at Tk 100–120, and ridge gourd remained at Tk 60 per kg.

Green mangoes were selling at Tk 30 to 40, green chillies at Tk 70 to 80, capsicum at Tk 250 to 280, and papaya at Tk 40 to 50 per kg.

Among winter vegetables, cauliflowers were selling at Tk 40–50 apiece, up by Tk 10–20, and bottle gourds at Tk 40–80.

Tomatoes remained at Tk 40–50 per kg. Carrots rose by Tk 10–20 to Tk 60–70, radish was at Tk 50, and cucumbers sold for Tk 50–60 per kg.

Raw bananas were still priced at Tk 40 per four-piece bunch, each ash gourd was selling at Tk 50, and sweet pumpkins at Tk 30 to 40 per kg.

“Prices have gone up because of the rain, though the wholesale market still offers slightly cheaper rates. We couldn’t bring in any goods in the last couple of days,” said Yusuf Khondaker, another vendor at Saat Tola market.

Lemons at the market were priced between Tk 10–20 per four, depending on variety.

Coriander leaves remained steady at Tk 250–280 per kg.

Red amaranth was selling at Tk 10 per bunch, bottle gourd leaves at Tk 40, spinach at Tk 10 to Tk 15, water spinach at Tk 15, Malabar spinach at Tk 30 to Tk 40, stem amaranth at Tk 10, napa greens at Tk 20, and fiddlehead ferns at Tk 25 per bunch.

BUYERS STILL RELIVED

Despite the price hike, customers appeared to be mostly satisfied.

Nazma Akter, who works at a garment factory in Tejgaon, said while shopping at Saat Tola: “Prices were much higher when summer vegetables first arrived. Now things are mostly within reach.”

Another shopper, Jewel Hossain, who was buying ridge gourd and potatoes, said: “Compared with recent years, potato prices are still low.

“Vegetables aren’t too expensive either. At least we can still afford to eat.”

Abdur Rahim, also shopping there, added: “I just hope prices don’t rise any further. At least now we can buy something.”

CHICKEN PRICES DROP AHEAD OF EID-UL-AZHA

As the Eid-ul-Azha approaches, poultry prices have remained stable in Dhaka, with a notable drop in broiler chicken rates.

Broiler chicken, previously sold at Tk 170 per kg last week, was available on Friday at Tk 150 to 160.

Sonali chicken remained at Tk 250 per kg, hybrid variant at Tk 230 to 240, Red Layer chicken at Tk 300 to 310, White Layer at Tk 280 to 290, and local (Deshi) chicken at Tk 650 per kg.

Khokon, a poultry seller at Saat Tola market, told bdnews24.com: “Prices usually go down before Eid. People are more focused on beef now, so chicken becomes cheaper.”

MEAT, EGG PRICES STEADY

Beef was selling for Tk 780 to 800 per kg, beef liver at Tk 800, head meat at Tk 400 to 450, tripe at Tk 350 to 400, and mutton at Tk 1,200 per kg.

A dozen red eggs were selling for Tk 130, duck eggs for Tk 220, and four local chicken eggs for Tk 85 to 90.

POTATOES, ONIONS REMAIN STABLE

Potato prices have remained affordable in recent months, while onion prices have also held steady for over a month.

On Friday, potatoes were selling at Tk 25 per kg, with bulk buyers paying as low as Tk 20. Local onions were at Tk 60 per kg, and Indian varieties at Tk 50.

Ginger was priced between Tk 120 and 280 depending on quality. Local garlic was selling for Tk 90 to 100, imported garlic at Tk 220 to 230, local lentils at Tk 140, Indian coarse lentils at Tk 120, mung beans at Tk 180, chickpeas at Tk 110, and Khesari lentils at Tk 130 per kg.