Prices of onions and other goods rose last week amid panic over the coronavirus, but this week the prices of onions, potatoes, eggs, chicken and several other products have fallen.

This was found on a visit to markets in the capital's Karwan Bazar, Khilgaon, Malibagh and Rampura areas on Friday (27 March).

Depending on the market and quality, onions are selling at Tk 35-45 a kg, down from Tk 75-80 last week. In other words, the price of onions has halved in a week.

Along with onions, the price of local garlic has fallen, though ginger and imported garlic are unchanged. Local garlic is selling at Tk 80-100 a kg, down from Tk 120-130 last week. Imported garlic is selling at Tk 170-190 as before, and ginger at Tk 170-180 a kg.

Explaining the fall in onion prices, Karwan Bazar trader Rubel said people bought far more onions than usual last week out of fear of the coronavirus, which pushed prices up. After drives by the consumer rights directorate and RAB, prices began to fall. "Now prices have come down, but there aren't as many buyers as before."

The price of round potatoes has also fallen. Depending on quality, potatoes are selling at Tk 18-20 a kg, against Tk 25-28 last week.

Rampura trader Milon said many people stockpiled potatoes, as they did onions, out of fear of the coronavirus. There was a rush to buy potatoes last week, which is why potatoes that sold for Tk 18 went up to Tk 25. Now that buying has eased, prices have fallen, and potato prices may fall further, he said.

Some traders had also used the coronavirus panic to push up the prices of eggs and chicken, along with onions and potatoes. But in a week both have become cheaper.

Farm-chicken red eggs are selling at Tk 100 a dozen, down from Tk 120 last week, and white eggs at Tk 90 a dozen, down from Tk 110. Broiler chickens are selling at Tk 120-125 a kg depending on the market, down from Tk 130-135 last week.

Malibagh trader Kalam said everyone who wanted to stockpile chicken had already done so, and no one is now buying extra chickens. Sales have dropped, and so have prices. If this continues, chicken prices will fall further, he said.

Visits to various fresh markets found that most vegetable prices were unchanged over the week. The most expensive item now is newly arrived drumstick (sajna), selling at Tk 170-180 a kg.

Bitter gourd is selling at Tk 40-50 a kg, the same as the previous week, and medium-sized bottle gourds at Tk 40-50 each, as before. Yardlong beans cost Tk 40-50 a kg, down from Tk 60-70 last week.

Cucumber is selling at Tk 20-30 a kg, papaya Tk 30-40, ripe tomatoes Tk 20-40, flat beans Tk 40-50, carrots Tk 20-30, turnips Tk 25-30, radish Tk 15-20, aubergine Tk 30-40 and pointed gourd Tk 40-50, while cauliflower and cabbage cost Tk 30-35 each. These prices are unchanged over the week. Green chillies are still selling at Tk 15-25 a poa (250 grams).

Hajipara trader Jahirul said that although onion and potato prices rose last week because of the coronavirus panic, fresh vegetable prices did not, and no vegetable has become dearer this week either. But there are fewer buyers in the market, he said.

Aslam, shopping at Malibagh market, said many people had bought extra onions, potatoes, fish and meat last week because of the coronavirus scare, including his neighbours. "But I didn't stockpile anything. Now the prices of almost everything are normal, which is a relief. But I call on those concerned to take the necessary steps so that prices don't rise again."

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