Vegetable Prices Soar Before Winter Amid Rising Cost of Living

Anwar Zahid, Faridpur

Winter is near, but the vegetable market in Faridpur still gives no relief. Supply of winter vegetables is low, so most vegetables cost a lot. In some places, tomatoes sell at Tk 150 a kg. Ordinary buyers are in trouble, and low and middle income families find it hard to run their homes with these high prices.

Our visits to markets in Alfadanga, Modhukhali, Saltha, Nagarkanda and other upazilas of Faridpur show that vegetable prices have started to climb before winter.

Vegetables like cauliflower, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, taro stems and pointed gourd sell at about Tk 80 a kg. Brinjal and spiny gourd have reached Tk 80 to 100 a kg. Early radish and okra sell at Tk 60 to 80 a kg. Early beans cost Tk 100 to 150 a kg, and buyers must pay Tk 150 to 200 for tomatoes. Papaya sells at Tk 30 and sweet pumpkin at Tk 50 a kg, which is cheaper by comparison.

Mr. Md. Hanif, a buyer from Ward 17 in Faridpur, said spice prices are also high along with vegetables. He said onions sell at Tk 40 to 50 a kg. Local garlic costs Tk 130 to 140 a kg, and imported garlic costs Tk 180. Green chilli sells at Tk 100 to 120 a kg. He said these high prices have raised the daily cost of marketing for buyers.

Ms. Taslima Begum, a buyer at Faridpur Haji Bazar, said the chicken market has given some relief. Broiler chicken now sells at Tk 175 to 180 a kg, which is Tk 5 to 10 lower than last week. Sonali chicken costs Tk 320 to 330 a kg. Farm egg prices have dropped a little, but ordinary buyers still cannot afford them. A dozen brown eggs sell at Tk 145 to 150, and a dozen white eggs sell at Tk 140.

Mr. Adam Mia, a trader at Faridpur Tepakhola Bazar, said the rice market has seen little change. Coarse rice sells at Tk 55 a kg. Medium quality Atash and Paijam rice sell at Tk 55 to 65, and fine rice sells at Tk 75 to 80. Nazirshail rice costs Tk 80 to 86 a kg, based on quality. Sellers say a rise in fuel prices has pushed up transport costs. This affects the price of rice and many other daily goods.

Our correspondent met a female police officer at Boro Bazar. She said bottled soybean oil prices have not changed. A litre of oil now sells at Tk 210, and a two litre bottle sells at Tk 410.

Buyers who came to shop say prices of daily goods keep rising even though their income does not. They say high prices of vegetables, onion, garlic and green chilli make it hard to balance the family budget. In their view, the authorities should watch the market more closely to control prices.

Sellers hope prices will fall slowly when the supply of winter vegetables grows. But they cannot say for sure when the market will give relief.