Chicken prices drop but vegetables, eggs costly

Prices of nearly all essentials in Dhaka’s kitchen markets have either remained high or surged over the past week, except chicken.

Vendors and customers cited the “heatwave” sweeping across the country as the reason behind the fall in chicken prices.

During visits to Karwan Bazar, Mohammadpur Town Hall, and Saat Masjid kitchen markets on Friday, broiler chicken was selling at Tk 180 per kg, down from Tk 190 last week.

Sonali chicken was on offer at Tk 270 per kg, Tk 30 less than the previous week.

However, the prices of country chicken remained almost unchanged. It was selling at Tk 650 per kg, like last week. In some places, the price dropped by only Tk 5.

Red layer chicken prices ranged between Tk 280 to Tk 300, which was a maximum of Tk 310 per kg last week.

Ataur Rahman, a poultry seller at Town Hall Market, said: “It’s been extremely hot the past two days. That’s why chicken prices have dropped. This is usual – prices fluctuate.”

Haripada Saha, a service holder who came to buy chicken on Friday morning, said: “Chicken is cheaper now — Tk 10 to Tk 20 less per kg compared with last week.”

He, however, claimed the egg prices rose while the chicken prices fell.

A dozen chicken eggs were sold at Tk 140 on the weekend. The price was Tk 125-130 last week.

VEGGIES REMAIN DEARER

No vegetable is available at a cost below Tk 50. Most of the veggies are priced between Tk 60 and Tk 80.

Among the summer vegetables, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd, and okra were selling at Tk 50 to Tk 80 per kg, while eggplant cost Tk 70 per kg.

Raw papaya cost from Tk 50 to Tk 70 each kg.

Also, yam stalks were selling from Tk 80 to Tk 100 per kg, yam roots from Tk 100 to Tk 120, long beans from Tk 100 to Tk 110, and drumsticks from Tk 110 to Tk 120.

Green chillies have become dearer again. On Friday, it sold at Tk 100 to Tk 110 each kg. The essential item cost buyers Tk 60-Tk 80 a kg last week.

Some winter vegetables are still available in the markets. However, their prices are pretty high. Prices of beans rose by Tk 20 to Tk 30 compared with last week and reached Tk 80 to Tk 90 each kg, depending on the quality. Different sizes of cauliflower are sold at Tk 50 to Tk 60 per piece, while bottle gourds cost Tk 50 to Tk 80 apiece.

A bunch of four raw bananas sold at Tk 40 while white melons cost Tk 50 to Tk 60 each depending on their sizes. Pumpkins were selling at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per kg.

Besides these, ripe tomatoes were selling at Tk 35- Tk 40 per kg, carrots Tk 50, radishes Tk 60, and cucumbers Tk 60 to Tk 80 a kg, unchanged from last week.

Prices of lemons dropped with four costing Tk 20. Meanwhile, coriander leaves were selling at Tk 180 per kg, and raw mangoes at Tk 40 to Tk 50 each kg.

Red spinach prices dropped to Tk 15 from Tk 20-25 per bunch. However, bottle gourd leaves are sold at Tk 40-50 per bunch, spinach Tk 15, Kang Kong Tk 15, and round spinach Tk 30-40 each bunch.

PRICES OF ONIONS, GARLIC REMAIN SAME

Prices of staples like potatoes, onions and others remained stable. Potatoes have been selling at Tk 20-25 a kg for the last month.

Local onions cost Tk 60 per kg while Indian onions, which are bigger, are sold at Tk 50 each kg.

Based on their qualities, gingers sold at Tk 120 to Tk 280 per kg, local breeds at Tk 100 to Tk 120 and Indian breeds at Tk 220 to Tk 230.

The price of local red lentils remained unchanged at Tk 140 per kg while the Indian breed cost Tk 120 a kg. Green gram is sold at Tk 180 per kg and Bengal gram at Tk 100 to Tk 110 a kg.

Faruk Hossain, owner of Ripa General Store at Sattala kitchen market said: “Prices of all essential items including the spices are stable. The supply is stable as well.”