Green chilli prices in the capital's retail markets have eased somewhat compared with last week. But vegetables, eggs and other essentials remain expensive, so shoppers are finding little relief despite the fall in chilli prices.

A visit to several Dhaka markets on Friday, 7 August, found that green chilli, which had risen to Tk 400 a kg last week, is now selling at Tk 280 to 320 a kg.

Retail and wholesale traders said prices began to fall locally once green chilli imports from India started. In a week the retail price in Dhaka has dropped by Tk 80 to 120 a kg.

Suman Howlader, a trader at Karwan Bazar, said supply had increased with chillies arriving from India, which is why prices fell. But because floods in various areas have kept supply of many other domestic products low and wholesale prices high, retail prices cannot come down.

Md Rafiqul Islam, a private-sector employee shopping at the same market, said the fall in chilli prices was good news, but eggs, vegetables and other essentials were still expensive. A drop in one or two items makes little difference to the overall shopping bill, he said.

Farm egg prices have risen for two weeks in a row. Two weeks ago a dozen brown eggs sold for Tk 140 at neighbourhood shops; last week this rose to Tk 150, and at the end of this week a dozen was selling for up to Tk 160. In the bigger markets a dozen could be had for Tk 150.

Some vegetables showed signs of slight easing. Long brinjal, which sold at Tk 120 a kg last week, now sells at Tk 80 to 100 depending on quality and market, though round brinjal is still about Tk 150 a kg.

Cucumber has fallen slightly to Tk 60 to 80 depending on quality. Green papaya is unchanged at Tk 35 to 40 a kg. Sponge gourd, ridge gourd and snake gourd sell at Tk 80 to 100 a kg depending on the market. Taro stolons are Tk 80 to 100, taro corms Tk 70 to 80, pointed gourd Tk 60 to 80 and bitter gourd Tk 90 to 120 a kg.

Ash gourd was selling at Tk 50 to 70 a piece and local bottle gourd at Tk 70 to 90.

Onion prices remain high at Tk 60 a kg, while potatoes are unchanged at Tk 30 a kg.

Despite the rise in eggs, broiler chicken prices have changed little in the past week, although they rose by Tk 10 to 15 a kg two weeks ago. Broilers now sell at Tk 180 to 200 a kg and Sonali chicken at Tk 330 to 350 a kg, depending on the market.

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