Onion prices have started to fall in Rangpur's markets. On news of onion imports from India, the price has dropped by Tk 25-30 a kg in two days. Egg and chicken prices have fallen too, while rice, lentils, fish, meat and oil are unchanged.

Visiting various markets in Rangpur city on Tuesday (6 June), local onions were found selling at retail for Tk 70-75 a kg, down from Tk 100 two days earlier.

Onion imports from India began on Monday. Although the imported onions had not yet reached Rangpur's markets, prices had started to fall. Traders said prices could fall further if the Indian onions arrived overnight.

Broiler chicken was selling at Tk 180-190 a kg, Pakistani chicken had fallen from Tk 290-300 to Tk 270-280, and local chicken from Tk 570-580 to Tk 520-540 a kg.

As last week, beef was selling at Tk 670-720 a kg and goat meat at Tk 1,000-1,100. Poultry eggs were selling at retail for Tk 44-45 a hali (four).

Amir Hossain, a chicken seller at Mulatol Amtala Bazar, said that because of the intense heat and load-shedding, farmers were struggling to keep their poultry. Supply to the market had increased as a result, so prices had eased somewhat.

In the vegetable market, tomatoes had risen from last week to Tk 45-50 a kg. Ash gourd was unchanged at Tk 30-35, thin aubergines Tk 35-40, round aubergines up from Tk 50 to Tk 55-60, papaya Tk 50-55, bitter gourd Tk 50-60, yardlong beans Tk 35-40, lemons Tk 8-10 a hali, green chillies Tk 90-100, dried chillies unchanged at Tk 450-500, bottle gourd Tk 40-50 a piece depending on size, green bananas Tk 25-30 a hali, pumpkin Tk 25-30 a kg, ridge gourd Tk 35-40, dudhkushi unchanged at Tk 35-40, drumsticks up from Tk 70 to Tk 90-100, pointed gourd Tk 40-45, okra Tk 30, spiny gourd Tk 40-50, ginger up from Tk 270-280 to Tk 300-320, local garlic up from Tk 140-150 to Tk 160-180 and Indian garlic Tk 180-200 a kg. Bundles of all kinds of leafy greens were available for Tk 10-15.

At retail, Cardinal potatoes were unchanged from last week at Tk 35 a kg, white local potatoes Tk 40-45, and Shil and Jhau potatoes Tk 50-55.

Gafur Mia, a vegetable seller at City Bazar, said vegetable prices had risen slightly over the week. Indian onions had not yet reached Rangpur's markets, but on news of the imports traders had started selling their older stock cheaper. Prices could fall further once the Indian onions arrive, he said.

At retail, one litre of bottled soybean oil was selling for Tk 199, two litres for Tk 398, and loose soybean oil for Tk 180-200.

In the rice market, Swarna was unchanged from last week at Tk 45-50 a kg, Paijam Tk 54-55, BR28 Tk 55-60, Miniket Tk 75-78 and Nazirshail Tk 85.

Loose sugar was unchanged at Tk 135-140 a kg, packaged atta Tk 65-68 and loose atta Tk 58-60, chickpeas Tk 90-100 and packaged maida Tk 78-80.

Lentils were unchanged: medium masur dal Tk 110-120 a kg, fine masur Tk 130-140, mung dal Tk 140 and gram dal Tk 95-100.

In the fish market, depending on size, rui was selling at Tk 250-300 a kg, mrigel Tk 220-250, carp Tk 200-220, pangas Tk 150-160, tilapia Tk 140-160, katla Tk 400-450, bata Tk 160-180, shing Tk 300-400 and silver carp Tk 150-250.

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