Lower veg prices bring relief, but chicken still costly

The price of vegetable have declined in the capital’s kitchen markets as supplies increased, bringing some relief to consumers but chicken prices remained high over the week.

Prices of different vegetables have dropped by Tk10 toTk 40 per kilogramme (kg) over the past week.

This trend was seen while visiting different kitchen markets at Mirpur 6, 11, 12 and Shewrapara on Friday.

During the market visits  it was seen that winter vegetable prices declined significantly. Beans were sold at Tk70 to Tk80 per kg, down from Tk100 and Tk120 last week.

New potatoes were sold at Tk80 per kg, down Tk20 from the previous week. Radishes were priced at Tk40 per kg, large cauliflowers at Tk40 to Tk50 each and small cabbages at Tk30 to Tk40 each.

With increased supplies of winter vegetables, prices of summer vegetables also declined. Pointed gourds, okra and snake gourds were sold at Tk50-60 per kg. Eggplant prices fell by Tk20 before addomg Tk60 to Tk80 per kg, while green chillies dropped by Tk20 to Tk80 to Tk100 per kg. Tomatoes were sold at Tk 100 to Tk120 per kg, down Tk40. Olives were priced at Tk40 to Tk50 per kg, while carrots were selling at Tk120 to Tk140 per kg.

Papaya prices fell by Tk15 to Tk20 per kg, while potatoes became Tk5 cheaper at Tk25 per kg. Onions were sold at Tk50 to Tk55 per kg.

Taro stolons were priced at Tk80 per kg, taro roots at Tk40 to Tk50, cucumbers at Tk80 to Tk100, yardlong beans at Tk60 to Tk80 and sweet pumpkins at Tk40 to Tk50 per kg.

Saiful Islam , a vegetable trader at Mirpur 13, said prices of all vegetables declined compared with the previous week as supplies in wholesale markets remained good. He expected prices to fall further next week.

Chicken prices, however, remained high, offering little relief to consumers. Sonali chickens were sold at Tk330 per kg, hybrid Sonali chickens at Tk290, red layer chickens at Tk330, down Tk20, broiler chickens at Tk180 and native chickens at Tk670 per kg.

Leafy vegetables were sold at Tk15 per bunch for red amaranth, Tk50 for bottle gourd leaves, Tk20 for two bunches of water spinach, Tk40 for Malabar spinach and Tk40 for two bunches of stem amaranth.

Fish prices varied depending on species and size. Farmed shing fish was sold at Tk350 to Tk600 per kg, while native shing was priced at Tk1,200 to Tk1,400. Ruho fish was sold at Tk400 to Tk550, native magur at Tk900 to Tk1,200, mrigal at Tk350 to Tk450 and farmed pangas at Tk180 to Tk220 per kg.

Beef was sold at Tk800-820 per kg, while mutton was priced at Tk1,300 per kg.

A dozen farm eggs were sold at Tk 140 to Tk145, while a dozen duck eggs cost Tk180.