The prices of onions remained high at the capital鈥檚 kitchen markets on Friday, selling at Tk 100-120 a kilogram amid a supply crunch at the end of the season.
Onion prices witnessed a fresh hike at the start of last week, surging by Tk 20-30 a kilogram from that of Tk 70-80 a kilogram earlier.
Traders said that prices soared as the supply of onions declined at this time,聽as it usually did, and that the high prices could persist for the next few months until the new season鈥檚 harvest arrives.
鈥楬owever, if the government allows imports, the prices might decline,鈥� said Babul Miah, a wholesale trader from Karwan Bazar.
He said that the farmers had not had any onions left, creating a supply shortfall on the markets.
鈥榃hen the new harvest, including murikata variant, arrives on the market in December, the price would come down,鈥� he added.
After more than four months of maintaining high prices, vegetables witnessed a slight decline in their prices on the capital鈥檚 kitchen markets amid a surge in supply.
However, the prices of vegetables still remained high for ordinary consumers, while fish prices have remained high over the past few months.
Although the 22-day hilsa fishing ban ended at midnight on October 26, price of the national delicacy remained out of reach for consumers, which are about Tk 800-2,000 a kilogram based on size.
After visiting some kitchen markets, including Kallyanpur Natun Bazar, Agargaon Taltola Bazar and Karwan Bazar wholesale market, it was observed that there was an adequate supply of early winter vegetables.
Among the notable ones, beans sold at Tk 60-80 a kilogram, based on wholesale and neighbourhood markets, radish at Tk 40 a kilogram and small-sized cauliflowers at Tk 40-60 apiece, unchanged from last week.
The prices of almost all vegetables were about Tk 60-80 a kilogram two weeks ago and they dropped to Tk 40-60 a kilogram on Friday.
The price of green chillies declined to Tk 60-100 a kilogram on the wholesale market and Tk 100-120 on neighbourhood markets.
On Friday, spiny gourds were sold for Tk 70-80 a kilogram, pointed gourds and okra at Tk 40-50 a kilogram, yardlong beans at Tk 50 a kilogram and bitter gourd at Tk 70-80 a kilogram.
Aubergines, cucumbers and tomatoes sold for Tk 60-80 a kilogram on the day.聽
Red chillies were selling at Tk 350-500 a kilogram, depending on variety.
Price of potatoes declined further, selling at Tk 18-20 a kilogram. At some vendor shops, potatoes were sold for Tk 100 for 6 kilograms.聽
The price of papaya was Tk 30 a kilogram, that of taro runner Tk 50-60 and taro stem Tk 40-50 a kilogram.
Bottle gourds were sold for Tk 40-60 apiece, based on variant.
Local variant of garlic was sold at Tk 100-120 a kilogram, while its imported variant was sold at Tk 150-200 a kilogram. Meanwhile, ginger was sold at Tk 130 a kilogram on Friday.
A vegetable聽trader, Md Sohel Rana, said that wholesale prices were declining and they were adjusting retail rates accordingly.
He said that as fair weather continued, prices were falling across the board.
Md Imran Master, president of Bangladesh Kachamal Arat Malik Samity, told 抖阴精品 that as winter progressed, the supply of vegetables on the market would increase and prices were likely to fall further throughout the season.
He 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 price of broiler chicken remained stable at Tk 160-170 a 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 at Tk 550-580 a kilogram.
Packaged atta was sold for Tk 62-65 a kilogram and unpackaged atta at Tk 45-50 a kilogram. Meanwhile, packaged maida sold for Tk 75 a kilogram and its unpackaged variant for Tk 65 a kilogram.
However, prices of fish have remained high over the past few weeks, like Ruhi was selling at Tk 300-450 a kilogram, based on size, Katla at Tk 350-450 a kilogram, Shing at Tk 550 a kilogram, Pangash at Tk 180-220 and Tilapia at Tk 150-200 a kilogram.
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 at Tk 750-800 a kilogram and mutton at Tk聽1,100-1,200 a kilogram on Friday.
The prices of red lentils remained static at Tk 150-155 a kilogram for the fine variant, Tk 125-130 for the medium variant and Tk 100-110 for the coarse variant.