Vegetable prices in Dhaka's kitchen markets rose by Tk 10 to Tk 30 a kilogram over the past week, while chicken and hilsa moved the other way. A round of the Talatala, Agargaon and Sheorapara markets on Friday, 18 September, found every type of vegetable dearer than seven days earlier, chicken cheaper across the board, and hilsa easing on stronger supply.

Among summer vegetables, brinjal gained Tk 20 to sell at Tk 100–160 a kilogram. Tomato was Tk 100–160, bitter gourd Tk 80–100 and green chilli Tk 100–120. Pointed gourd, okra, teasel gourd and ridge gourd fetched Tk 80–100 depending on quality; taro stolon Tk 80–100, taro corm Tk 50–60, cucumber and yardlong bean Tk 60–80, carrot Tk 120 and sweet pumpkin Tk 40. Papaya sold at Tk 40, potato at Tk 30 and onion at Tk 45–50 a kilogram.

Early winter produce remained expensive: hyacinth bean at Tk 200–240 a kilogram, radish Tk 60, cauliflower Tk 60–80 and a small cabbage Tk 80 a piece. Lemons were Tk 20–40 for four, green bananas Tk 40 for four, ash gourd Tk 50–60 a piece, local coriander Tk 300 and hybrid coriander Tk 240 a kilogram, and capsicum Tk 350. In leafy greens, a bunch of red amaranth cost Tk 15, bottle-gourd leaves Tk 50, Indian spinach Tk 40, and two bunches of water spinach or stem amaranth Tk 20 and Tk 40 respectively.

Chicken brought some relief. Sonali cock fell Tk 20 to Tk 300 a kilogram, Sonali hybrid sold at Tk 270, red layer at Tk 350, broiler down Tk 10 at Tk 170, and native chicken down Tk 50 at Tk 650. Beef was Tk 780–800 and mutton Tk 1,300 a kilogram. A dozen red hen eggs cost Tk 150–155, a dozen duck eggs Tk 200, four native-hen eggs Tk 100 and four Sonali eggs Tk 70.

Hilsa came down on higher arrivals, though shoppers said the drop fell short of what the peak season should bring. Fish of about 300 grams sold at Tk 900–1,000 a kilogram, 500–700 gram fish at Tk 1,400–1,800, and one-kilogram hilsa at Tk 2,000–2,300. Ilias Hossain, shopping at Talatala market, said strong demand for small hilsa had kept prices from falling much below last year's, so the fish stayed dear even with ample supply. Traders countered that large quantities were arriving and expected prices to soften further within a week.

Elsewhere on the fish stalls, farmed stinging catfish sold at Tk 300–600 a kilogram by size and the wild variety at Tk 1,200–1,400; rohu rose to Tk 400–550; native walking catfish was Tk 900–1,200, mrigal Tk 350–450, farmed pangas Tk 180–200, prawn Tk 800–1,400, boal Tk 600–800, large catla Tk 400–550, poa Tk 350–400, pabda Tk 400–450, tilapia Tk 240, climbing perch Tk 220–230, mola Tk 500, batasi tengra Tk 1,400, tengra Tk 500–800, kachki Tk 500 and mixed small fish Tk 240.

For growers and farmers the week sends two signals: summer vegetables are gaining and early winter crops such as beans and cauliflower are commanding a premium, yet broiler, Sonali and native chicken all lost ground in the same seven days. If hilsa landings keep building, traders expect the fish to get cheaper still next week.

Source: banglanews24