Vegetable prices in Khulna's markets have fallen considerably compared with last week, with most vegetables down by Tk 5 to Tk 10 a kg. Markets that were almost empty of buyers during the long holiday after Eid are now busy again.

This was the picture on 22 June at the city's Gollamari bazar, Mistripara bazar, Notun bazar, Rupsha bazar, New Market and Khalishpur bazar.

Aubergine was selling at Tk 30-40, pointed gourd Tk 30, okra Tk 30, bitter gourd Tk 40-50, bottle gourd Tk 30-40, red amaranth Tk 30 a kg, papaya Tk 30 a kg, Malabar spinach Tk 30, green chilli Tk 100-120 a kg, sweet pumpkin Tk 30 a kg, potato Tk 25-30, green banana Tk 25 a hali (four), cucumber Tk 70-80 a kg, onion Tk 60-70 and garlic Tk 80-100.

Broiler chicken was selling at Tk 160-170 a kg, Sonali chicken Tk 270-280 and layer chicken Tk 260-270 a kg. Beef was Tk 750 a kg and mutton Tk 1,150 a kg.

In the fish market, rui was Tk 250-300 a kg, tengra Tk 400-500, pabda Tk 350-400, shrimp Tk 500-600, small fish Tk 250-300, tilapia Tk 150-160, bhetki Tk 400-500, local koi Tk 150 and pangas Tk 130-160.

Retailers say sales have risen compared with last week. Some vegetable prices fell this week because of rain, while many others rose slightly. Traders hope prices will stay stable if yields are good and supply increases.

Karimul, a vegetable seller at Gollamari bazar, said sales had risen this week and vegetables were much cheaper, with leafy vegetables at Tk 30-40. Unless there is a lack of rain, prices will stay stable, he said.

Aslam Mia, a fish seller at Gollamari bazar, said fish prices had neither risen nor fallen. Because fish feed is expensive, prices at the wholesale centres are a little high, and farmed fish from ghers range from Tk 150 to Tk 500.

Rafiq, a fish seller at Notun bazar, said sales were poor last week but have picked up now that everything has reopened. He has to sell on thin margins, as buyers walk away if they hear a high price.

Farhad Hossain, shopping at Notun bazar, said vegetables and chicken were much cheaper and it was a relief when prices were within reach. Tahmid Ahmed at Rupsha bazar said he buys groceries there almost every day and rarely compares prices elsewhere, but chicken has been cheap since before Eid. Habib, at Mistripara bazar, said as a bachelor he shops daily; vegetable prices go up and down every week, but have fallen somewhat on last week.

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