Winter vegetables such as hyacinth beans, cauliflower, cabbage and radish fill the markets, along with every other kind of vegetable, yet prices remain high. Vegetable prices in the capital's markets changed little over the week, however.

Fish prices were also unchanged, as were those of potatoes and onions. Chicken became somewhat cheaper, while egg prices held steady.

Visits to various markets in the capital on 12 November found traders selling broiler chicken at Tk 160 to Tk 165 a kg, against Tk 165 to Tk 170 last week. Broiler prices have thus fallen by Tk 5 a kg in a week and by Tk 25 in three weeks; three weeks ago broilers sold for Tk 185 to Tk 190 a kg.

The price of 'Pakistani cock', or Sonali chicken, has also fallen somewhat, to Tk 290 to Tk 320 a kg from Tk 300 to Tk 340 last week. Red layer hens, however, have risen slightly, from Tk 220 to Tk 230 a kg last week to Tk 240 to Tk 250 now.

Md Al-Amin, a trader in Khilgaon, told Jago News that broiler supply had increased over the past two or three weeks, so prices had gradually begun to fall, from Tk 190 to Tk 160 already. He expects broiler prices to fall further.

He said Sonali prices had fallen because broilers became cheaper. But demand for chicken has not fallen: hotels and restaurants are buying large quantities, and various events are also being held, so he does not expect chicken prices to fall very much.

Despite the fall in chicken prices, eggs were unchanged over the week, with farm eggs selling at Tk 115 to Tk 120 a dozen as last week.

In the vegetable market, onions sold at Tk 50 to Tk 60 a kg, as last week. Carrots and tomatoes remained the dearest: depending on quality, a kg of carrots sold for Tk 100 to Tk 160, and tomatoes for Tk 140 to Tk 160 a kg, both unchanged over the week.

Hyacinth beans, which rose somewhat last week, have come down a little this week, from Tk 120 to Tk 130 a kg to Tk 80 to Tk 100. Okra sold at Tk 60 to Tk 80 a kg, as last week.

Prices of pointed gourd, yard-long beans, cauliflower and cabbage were unchanged over the week. Pointed gourd sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 a kg and yard-long beans at Tk 50 to Tk 70 a kg. Cauliflower sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 a piece and cabbage at Tk 30 to Tk 40 a piece.

Among other vegetables with unchanged prices, ridge gourd sold at Tk 40 to Tk 50 a kg, radish at Tk 40 to Tk 50, bitter gourd at Tk 60 to Tk 80 and snake gourd at Tk 40 to Tk 50 a kg.

Green bananas sold at Tk 30 to Tk 35 a hali (four), red amaranth at Tk 10 to Tk 15 a bunch, radish greens at Tk 10 to Tk 15 a bunch and spinach at Tk 20 to Tk 25 a bunch.

Milon Sardar, a trader at Karwan Bazar, said the supply of winter vegetables is increasing day by day, but has not yet had an effect on prices, which is why all kinds of vegetables are a little dear. He expects many vegetable prices to come down within a few days.

In the fish market, rui sold at Tk 280 to Tk 350 a kg, with catla at the same price. Shing sold at Tk 300 to Tk 350 a kg, and taki at the same price. Shol sold at Tk 500 to Tk 600 a kg, and tilapia and pangas at Tk 150 to Tk 170 a kg. Hilsa weighing one to one and a half kg sold at Tk 1,000 to Tk 1,200 a kg, nola at Tk 170 to Tk 200 a kg and shrimp at Tk 600 to Tk 650 a kg.

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