Vegetable prices in Barishal have risen by Tk 5 to Tk 10 within a week, though fish and meat prices have held steady for the past two weeks. That was the picture on a visit to Barishal's wholesale vegetable market, arats and fish and meat shops on Monday morning, 21 April.

At the wholesale market, cucumber that sold at Tk 25–30 a kg last week is selling at Tk 30–35 this week. Green chillies rose from Tk 35–40 a kg to Tk 40–45, and pointed gourd from Tk 40–50 to Tk 55 a kg. Up Tk 3–10 on last week, aubergine is selling at Tk 45–50 depending on size, drumstick at Tk 80, okra at Tk 65, pumpkin at Tk 40 and bitter gourd at Tk 80. Bottle gourd is Tk 40–50 a piece and lemons Tk 25–30 a hali (four).

Sweet potato is selling at Tk 25–30 a kg, onion at Tk 45 and garlic at Tk 50–60.

Fish and meat prices are unchanged. Broiler chicken is selling at Tk 180–190, Sonali chicken at Tk 330, beef at Tk 750 and goat meat at Tk 1,150 a kg. Per kg, rui sells at Tk 300–450, tengra at Tk 500–600, farmed tilapia at Tk 140, pangas at Tk 130–150, shrimp at Tk 450–650 depending on type, pabda at Tk 350–400 and medium bhetki at Tk 400.

Traders say good vegetable production in different parts of the country has brought prices down within ordinary people's reach. Although some vegetables are Tk 3–10 dearer than last week, prices will fall again when supply rises, they say.

Md Ali Hossain Khan, owner of Messrs Shaharia Banijyaloy at Bahumukhi City Market, Barishal's only wholesale vegetable market, told Jago News that vegetable prices had been low for quite some time, mainly because production was good across the country this year, which has also kept retail prices down. But some unscrupulous traders, citing various costs, buy vegetables at wholesale and sell them at double the price in the retail market, he said.

Towhidul Islam, a retail vegetable seller in the city's Bangla Bazar area, told Jago News that wholesale prices cannot be used to judge retail prices. After buying at wholesale, sellers pay for transport and labour, then pay separately to sit at the market, plus money for electricity. When produce spoils, the loss is theirs, he said, so there is no point comparing retail with wholesale.

Apurba Adhikari, deputy director of the Barishal divisional office of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, said markets are monitored almost every day to stop excessive price rises. Drives in different areas are fining dishonest traders, and the drives will continue, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.