Vegetable prices cool off on winter harvest

Vegetables prices have started to cool off in the kitchen markets easing pressure on the wallets of consumers thanks to the arrival of winter harvests.

For instance, consumers can buy red amaranth, a popular leafy vegetable, at cheaper rates now than a month ago. Its prices fell 43 per cent to Tk 15-20 each kilogram at markets in Dhaka yesterday from Tk 20-30 a month ago, according to data of the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM).

Prices of spinach also dropped.

Brinjal, one of the most popular vegetables, also became more affordable now than one or two months ago when its cultivation got affected repeatedly owing to excessive rains and floods.

One can buy each kg of brinjal at Tk 30-35 in Dhaka Sadar area, nearly 50 per cent lower than a month ago. Prices of bottle gourd also declined, according to the DAM.

Prices of onion, which went through the roof after India's ban on shipment, also declined amid increasing arrivals.

Potato prices, however, remained high as arrival of early harvest is lower than demand.