Steady supply brings vegetable prices down in port city

Kitchen markets in the port city are witnessing a fall in the prices of seasonal vegetables in comparison with last week.

Vegetables traders said with winter approaching, the supply of vegetables has been on the rise and that is contributing to the fall in prices. If the flow of supply remains this way, the prices are likely to go down further in the days to come, they hoped.

Mohammad Yasin, president of Karnaphuli Kitchen Market, told The Daily Star that a steady supply of vegetables from southern Chattogram and elsewhere in the country has helped bring the prices down.

City residents, especially families on low incomes, are delighted to be able to find the prices within reach of their pockets.

Rickshaw puller Mohammad Shahjahan, while shopping vegetables at Chawkbazar Kitchen Market, said, “It's only the winter season when people with low income like us can buy vegetables without having to worry about a budget.”

“Even a month ago, I couldn't afford buying more than two types of vegetables due to the high price, but now I can buy a lot more.”

After visiting a few city kitchen markets at Chawkbazar, Kazir Dewri, Bahaddarhat and Karnaphuli, this correspondent found vegetable prices lower than those a week ago.   

Each kg of cauliflower was being sold for Tk 25 to Tk 30 yesterday in the markets, whereas the price of the same was Tk 40 to Tk 50 last week.

Yesterday, the price of cabbage was Tk 20 to Tk 25 per kg. It was sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40 last week.

Eggplant was selling at Tk 25 to Tk 30 per kg yesterday, as opposed to Tk 35 to Tk 40 each kg last week. The price of bean was Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg yesterday, whereas the price was Tk 50 to Tk 60 last week.

Ladyfinger, also known as okra, was selling for Tk 25 to Tk 30 per kg yesterday. It was sold for Tk 40 last week. Bitter gourd was Tk 35 to Tk 40 yesterday and Tk 50 last week. 

The price of a kg of tomato was Tk 60 to Tk 65 in last week, but yesterday, it was available for Tk 40 to Tk 50. 

Manju Sawdagor, a wholesaler at Reazuddin Bazar, said farmers in southern Chattogram this year saw an abundant harvest of vegetables. And with the produce reaching the kitchen markets, the prices are coming down.