Prices of early winter vegetables see a sharp rise in major kitchen markets in Rajshahi over the past week, as the damage caused by unseasonal early-November rainfall continues to disrupt supply, causing strain on household budgets.
During visits to Shaheb Bazar, Lakshmipur and New Market kitchen markets on Monday, most winter staples, including potatoes, eggplants, beans, tomatoes and cauliflowers, were found selling at nearly double the prices of the same period last year.
Traders and farmers said that supply had fallen significantly after prolonged rainfall inundated cropland across the Rajshahi agricultural region, leaving farmers unable to harvest or transport produce in time.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the two-day rain spell earlier this month damaged crops on 19,568 hectares of farmland in Rajshahi, Naogaon, Natore and Chapainawabganj districts, causing an estimated loss of Tk 131.31 crore.
DAE data show that crops on 1,649 hectares were completely destroyed, while another 13,860 hectares were partially affected.
Aman paddy suffered the worst blow, with plants on 585 hectares fully destroyed and that on 12,501 hectares partially damaged.
According to the data, vegetables were completely destroyed on 108 hectares, with partial damage on 434 hectares.
Other major crops hit include garlic on 301 hectares, mustard on 453 hectares, early variety of onions on 60 hectares and early variety of potatoes on 42 hectares.
Market prices reflected the shock. On Monday, round potatoes sold for Tk 35 a kilogram, up from Tk 25 last week, while potatoes (holland) at Tk 28, up from Tk 15鈥�18 last week.
Beans and eggplants rose to Tk 120鈥�130 a kilogram from Tk 80鈥�90, while tomatoes climbed to Tk 160鈥�180 a kilogram from Tk 140鈥�160.
Cauliflowers sold for Tk 80 per kilogram, compared with Tk 35鈥�40 a week earlier. Prices of okra increased to Tk 80 a kilogram from Tk 60, sweet pumpkin to Tk 50 from Tk 40, edible arum bulbs (kochumukhi) to Tk 60 from Tk 40 and radish to Tk 40 from Tk 20.
Prices of leafy vegetables, including spinach, red amaranth and coriander leaves,聽 also went up, though the price of bottle gourds remained stable.
Besides, onion prices continued to surge, selling for Tk 100鈥�110 a kilogram up from Tk 65鈥�70 last week, while locally grown garlic price rose to Tk 120 per kilogram from Tk 100.
鈥楢lmost all early-season crops have been affected by the rainfall. Many fields were under knee-deep water for days. As supply is low, prices are naturally rising,鈥� said Abdul Malek, a trader at Shalbagan Kitchen Market.
Abdur Rahman, a farmer from Tanore upazila, said that his early-variety potatoes, cauliflower and onions on five hectares of land were completely destroyed by the unseasonal rain.
Consumers expressed frustration over their strained kitchen budgets.
鈥業 used to buy a decent variety of vegetables for Tk 200鈥�250, but now even Tk 400 is not enough,鈥� said Ferdousi Khatun, a resident of Shalbagan area.
Shahana Akhter Jahan, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Rajshahi division, told 抖阴精品 that supply might remain unstable for at least two more weeks.
鈥楾he unseasonal rain damaged crops on thousands of hectares. But our farmers are enthusiastic鈥攊f the weather stays dry, new harvests will start arriving by early December,鈥� she said.
