After more than four months of soaring prices, the prices of vegetables witnessed a slight decline at the capital鈥檚 kitchen markets on Friday amid a surge in supply.
However, the prices still remained high for ordinary consumers and fish prices remained high as they have been for weeks.
Although the 22-day hilsa fishing ban ended at midnight on October 26, prices remained out of reach for consumers.
Meanwhile, after visiting some kitchen markets, it was observed that the number of early winter vegetables entering the markets brought some relief to consumers.
At Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Colony Bazar, and Karwan Bazar wholesale market, the early-arrived beans were sold at Tk 60-80 a kilogram (based on wholesale and neighbourhood markets), which was Tk 100-140 last week.
Another winter item, radish, was sold at Tk 40 a kilogram, while small-sized cauliflowers were sold at Tk 40-60 apiece, down from Tk 80-100 last week.聽
Last week, the prices of almost all vegetables were around Tk 60-80, but they fell to Tk 40-60 a kilogram.
The price of green chillies declined to Tk 60-100 a kilogram on the wholesale market, down from Tk 120-140 at neighbourhood markets.
On Friday, spiny gourds were sold for Tk 70-80 a kilogram, down from Tk 100 last week; pointed gourds and okra at Tk 40-50, down from last week鈥檚 Tk 60-70 a kilogram.
The price of yardlong beans fell to Tk 50 a kilogram, down from Tk 80-100 last week, while bitter gourds were sold at Tk 70-80 a kilogram, down from Tk 80-100.
The prices of aubergines came down to Tk 60-80 a kilogram from Tk 100-120, cucumbers to Tk 60-80 a kilogram, and tomatoes to Tk 100-120 a kilogram on the day.聽
Red chillies were sold at Tk 350-500 a kilogram, depending on the variety.
Potato prices declined further, selling at Tk 18-20聽 a kilogram. At some vendor shops, potatoes were selling at Tk 100 for 6 kilograms.聽
The prices of papaya were at Tk 30 a kilogram, taro runner at Tk 50-60 and taro stem at Tk 40-50 a kilogram.
Bottle gourds were sold at Tk 40-60 apiece, based on the variant.
A 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.
A vegetable聽trader, Md Shahjahan, said that wholesale prices were declining and they were adjusting retail rates accordingly.
Dulal Mia, a wholesale trader from Karwan Bazar, said that with no rain and daily truckloads of beans and cabbages arriving, prices were falling across the board.
Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity, told 抖阴精品 that, as the weather was becoming fairer and the peak season had already begun, prices began to fall.
鈥楾he supply of winter vegetables would be in full swing from mid-November. We expect overall vegetable prices would witness further decline from then,鈥� he added.
He also said that the farmers did their best to continue farming despite prolonged rainy seasons, repeated deep depressions in the Bay, and adverse farmland conditions.
The prices of broiler chicken remained stable at Tk 160-170 per kilogram, while eggs were sold at Tk 120 per dozen for the white variant and Tk 130 for the brown variant.
Sonali chicken was sold at Tk 250-280 a kilogram, and the domestic variant was at Tk 550-580 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.
However, prices of fish have remained high 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.
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.
The prices of local lentils remained static at Tk 150鈥�155 a kilogram for the fine variant, Tk 125-130 for the medium variant and Tk 100-110 for the coarse variant.聽
Mizanur Rahman, a private employee, said that vegetable prices had been unusually high for the past four months, leaving them under pressure.
However, prices have started falling, which is good news for them, he said, expecting they might go further down as winter approaches.
