The prices of vegetables and other essentials remained as high as past week on the capital鈥檚 kitchen markets on Friday, only days before arrival of winter produce.
However, price of eggs came down amid a supply surge.
Brown eggs were being sold at Tk 140 a dozen on various kitchen markets in the capital, including Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Taltola Bazar and Karwan Bazar, which were Tk 145-150 a dozen in the past week.聽
The price of white variants also declined to Tk 130-135 a dozen from Tk 135-140 a dozen on last Friday.
Tofazzal Ahmed, an egg trader at Karwan Bazar, said that egg supply surged due to fair weather returning after a series of heavy rainfall.聽
Meanwhile, the prices of almost all types of vegetables remained unchanged on Friday after having been high for the past few months.
Consumers and traders said that it might take another 20-30 days for winter vegetables to fully arrive on the market.
Usually, at this time of the year, some early winter vegetables start appearing, which ease the prices of other produces.
However, traders said, this year, the early winter crops have yet to arrive in significant quantities due to prolonged rainfall over the past months and as a result, there are no signs of vegetable prices dropping in the next two to three weeks.
Most vegetables were currently selling for聽Tk 60 to Tk 100 a kilogram,聽with some even priced higher.
The price of green chillies declined from that of two weeks ago, though it remained at Tk 180-200 on neighbourhood markets and Tk聽160-170 a kilogram on wholesale markets.
On Friday, spiny gourd was sold for Tk 100 a kilogram, pointed gourds Tk 60 a kilogram and okra Tk 50-60 a kilogram.
The price of yardlong beans remained unchanged at Tk 80-100 a kilogram, while bitter gourds were sold at the same price.聽
Aubergine was sold at Tk 100-120 a kilogram, cucumbers at Tk 60-80 a kilogram and tomatoes at Tk 120-140 a kilogram on the day.聽
Red chillies were sold at Tk 350-500 a kilogram, depending on the variety.
Potatoes were sold for Tk 20-25 a kilogram, papaya for Tk 30, taro runner for Tk聽50-60 and taro stem for Tk 40-50 a kilogram.
Bottle gourds were sold at Tk 80-100 apiece, based on the variant.
Local variant of garlic was sold at Tk 100-130 a kilogram, while its imported variant was sold at Tk 200 a kilogram. Meanwhile, ginger was sold at Tk 130 a kilogram on Friday.
Vegetable prices were about Tk 10-20 higher per unit on neighbourhood markets in the capital than that on wholesale markets.
Some early winter vegetables, including beans, cauliflower, radish and various types of spinach, have started to appear on the markets.
However, their prices remained high at the moment as the peak season have not started yet.
For instance, beans were being sold for聽Tk 140-160 a kilogram,聽while during peak season in winter the price would usually drop to聽Tk 40-50. Small-sized cauliflowers were sold at Tk 40-50 apiece, which might be Tk 15-20 apiece during the peak season.
Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity, told 抖阴精品 that the country鈥檚 agriculture was currently in the lean season and prices would fall when the peak season began.
鈥楾he supply of winter vegetables would increase from mid-November. We expect overall vegetable prices to start falling by then. We have to wait for another two to three weeks,鈥� he added.
Traders said that due to excessive rainfall throughout the seasons and several deep depressions over the Bay of Bengal, vegetables spoiled, even in the highlands, which impacted retail prices.
The persistent high prices have left consumers struggling over the past few months.
On the market, the price of broiler chicken remained unchanged at Tk 160-170 a kilogram.
Onions were sold at Tk 70-80 a kilogram on Friday; packaged atta at Tk 65-70 a kilogram and unpackaged atta at Tk 52 a kilogram.
Packaged maida was sold at Tk聽75 a kilogram, while its unpackaged variant was sold at Tk 65 a kilogram.
Fish were also sold at high prices over the past few weeks.
On Friday, the price of Miniket rice ranged from Tk 70 to Tk聽80 a kilogram, down slightly, while Paijam or Athash was sold at Tk 60-70 a kilogram聽and the coarse variant at Tk 55-60 a聽kilogram.
Packaged soya bean oil was sold at Tk 190 a litre and a five-litre bottle cost Tk 922. In contrast, the prices of unpackaged soya bean oil and palm oil were Tk 176 and Tk 166 a litre respectively.
On October 13, the Bangladesh Vegetable Oil Refiners and Vanaspati Manufacturers Association issued a press release raising the prices of edible oil across different levels; however, commerce adviser Sk Bashir Uddin stated on Tuesday that the government did not increase the prices of edible oil.
The price of beef remained stable at Tk 750-800 a kilogram and mutton at Tk聽1,100-1,200 a kilogram on Friday.
