Supply enough, price high, consumers suffer

In spite of sufficient supply in the local markets, high prices of vegetable are causing immense sufferings to people, especially labourers and middle-class families, of the district.

All types of seasonal vegetables including cauliflower, bean, brinjal, tomato, potato and different varieties of leafy vegetables are available in the markets. But the price is three to four times more compared to previous years.

One kilogram of most varieties of vegetables is sold between Tk 30 to Tk 60. One kilogram of cauliflower was sold for Tk 50, brinjal Tk 60, tomato Tk 40, onion Tk 60, cucumber Tk 60, green chilli Tk 70 and potato Tk 25.

Varieties of leafy vegetables were sold for Tk 15 to Tk 30 a bundle. It has been going on for the last two weeks, said local people.

“Now we have to spend money mostly for buying vegetables,” said Nurul Islam, 60, a customer in Pirojpur market, adding he has not experienced such high prices of vegetable during the peak season in previous years.

“Normally we buy at least four varieties of vegetables during the peak season in winter. But the situation is different this year,” said another buyer Abdur Razzak, 45, adding after buying one variety of vegetable they dare not buy another.

Customers claimed that lack of monitoring of the market by the government, the sellers encourage to sell vegetables at high price.

It is urgent to monitor the market to bring vegetable price under control, said another customer Mizanur Rahman, 55, of Pirojpur town.

Because of bad weather for the last few weeks, farmers could not grow expected quantity of vegetables. So the price has increased due to low production of vegetables, said wholesaler Md Shohidul Islam of the town, adding they don't know when the price will come down.