Vegetable Prices Dip, Lentils-Sugar-Oil Remain High

At the beginning of Ramadan, there was some abnormality in the vegetable market, which is not the case now. Prices of vegetables have decreased somewhat in the market. However, despite adequate supply in the market, the prices of rice have not decreased over the past two weeks. Alongside, there is no good news regarding the prices of lentils, oil, and sugar, among other items. Moreover, there has been an increase in the prices of onions. Weekly prices have increased by almost 10 to 20 taka per kilogram. Similarly, the prices of potatoes have increased as well.

Today, Friday (March 29), various markets in the capital were visited, and it was observed that at the vegetable market, at the beginning of Ramadan, eggplants were selling for 80 to 100 taka per kilogram. Now, eggplants are being sold for 40 to 50 taka per kilogram. At the same time, the price per kilogram of spinach at the beginning of Ramadan was over 100 taka. Now it is being sold for 40 to 60 taka per kilogram. Similarly, the prices per kilogram of other vegetables such as bottle gourd, pumpkin, sweet pumpkin, okra, pointed gourd, and bitter gourd have decreased by 10 to 20 taka compared to last week.

However, there is no good news regarding the prices of other items in the market. Over the past two weeks, the prices of the main staple food, rice, have increased. Although there is a slight decrease in the demand for rice during Ramadan, the supply remains good. According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), the price per kilogram of rice has increased by two to three taka over the past week. The price of coarse rice in the market has increased from 50 to 52 taka per kilogram over the past week. And the price of fine rice has increased by three taka per kilogram.

It has also been observed that the prices of such types of rice in the market are being sold at even higher rates. Previously, the price per kilogram of coarse rice (Sarna and China Eri) was 50-51 taka, now it is 52-53 taka. The price per kilogram of medium-quality rice (Pajam and BR-28) has increased from 55-56 taka to 57-60 taka. And the price of small and medium-quality rice like Miniket and Nazirshail has increased from 62-78 taka per kilogram to 64-80 taka.

On the other hand, the onion market has been relatively low for the past few weeks. At the beginning of this month, due to the news of government import of onions from India and the arrival of new crops, the price of onions in the market started to rise. The price per kilogram of onions was seen to rise to 120 taka, which was 60 taka last month. However, the businessmen raised the prices of onions in the market after a few days of the ban issued by the government. In a few days, the price of onions per kilogram has increased by up to 20 taka. They are being sold for 70-80 taka now.

Besides, the potato market has seen an increase in prices over the past few weeks. The price per kilogram has increased by about 5 taka over the week. However, over the month, it has increased even more, by 12 to 15 taka. Because like onions, the price of potatoes had significantly decreased a month ago. They were being sold for 28 to 30 taka per kilogram. But a little increase was seen last week when potatoes were sold for 35 to 40 taka. Now the price has increased further, and they are being sold for 40 to 45 taka per kilogram.