Vegetable prices fall in Dhaka, but chicken remains expensive

Prices of winter vegetables have fallen in the capital’s kitchen markets, while chicken remains expensive and fish prices are stable amid increased supplies of hilsa, a market visit on Friday found.

Vegetable prices dropped by Tk10-20 per kg over the past week as supplies increased, offering some relief to consumers. 

Visits to kitchen markets in Mirpur-13, Mirpur-11, Mirpur-6, Shewrapara and Mohammadpur found that both winter and summer vegetables were cheaper than the previous week.

Saidur Rahman, a vegetable trader at Mirpur-13, said prices of almost all vegetables had fallen by Tk10-20 per kg over the week due to increased supplies. However, tomatoes, carrots and cucumbers remained relatively expensive.

Green beans sold at Tk40-50 per kg, down from Tk60-70 last week, while new potatoes sold at Tk60, compared with Tk70 a week ago. Green chillies, down by Tk20 over the week, sold at Tk60-80 per kg, while onions, down by Tk5, were priced at Tk45-50.

Pointed gourd, okra and snake gourd sold at Tk50-60 per kg, eggplant at Tk60-80, tomatoes at Tk80-100, olives at Tk40-50 and carrots at Tk120-130. Radish sold at Tk40 per kg and capsicums at Tk300.

Papaya sold at Tk15-20 per kg, potatoes at Tk25, taro stems at Tk70, taro roots at Tk40-50, cucumbers at Tk60-70, yardlong beans at Tk60-80 and sweet pumpkins at Tk40-50. Bottle gourd and large cauliflower sold at Tk30-40 apiece, small cabbage at Tk20-30 and ash gourds at Tk50-60. Green bananas sold at Tk40 for four pieces.

Chicken prices remained unchanged from the previous week. Sonali cock chicken sold at Tk330 per kg, Sonali hybrid at Tk290, red layer chicken at Tk330, broiler chicken at Tk180 and local chicken at Tk670.

Beef sold at Tk800-820 per kg and mutton at Tk1,300. A dozen brown eggs cost Tk130-135, while duck eggs sold at Tk180 a dozen.

Fish prices remained stable as hilsa supplies increased. Hilsa weighing around 1.3kg sold at Tk1,200-1,400 per kg, while 500g hilsa sold at Tk600-800 per kg.

Farmed shing sold at Tk300-500 per kg, depending on size, while local shing sold at Tk1,200-1,400. Rohu sold at Tk350-550 per kg, local magur at Tk900-1,200, mrigal at Tk350-450, farmed pangas at Tk180-220 and shrimp at Tk800-1,400. Boal sold at Tk600-800 per kg, large katla at Tk350-450, tilapia at Tk220-240 and koi at Tk220 per kg.