Prices during Ramadan

As a matter of fact, prices of certain essentials have been on the rise before the customary consumer concern centred on the month of Ramadan set in. The step that the government have taken in the meanwhile relates to fixing prices of edible oil at the factory gate and those of sugar and meats like beef and mutton. The price of bottled soyabean oil has been left unfixed. And, sellers have reportedly made it known that bottled edible oil will be pricey, because its supply to the market has been reduced, presumably by the dealers.
Although consumers are apprehensive of price hike in sugar and edible oil, the wholesalers and business leaders have admitted to 'no deficit' in the market; and if the mill owners keep their production and supply at normal levels, they see no reason why there will be jacking of prices of sugar and edible oil.
Most market monitoring reports point to good stock position. Unsurprisingly though, price differential at between wholesale and retail levels continues to be substantial. While stocks are estimated to be much better compared to that in the corresponding period of last year, the common phenomenon between the two years is the gap between the wholesale and retail prices, a ready ammunition for wholesaler and the retailer to trade blame as happened last year. There is another constant to contend with: the runaway prices as soon as a commodity leaves the grower and change hands through a network of middlemen and extortionists before reaching the consumer. As for the imported stuffs, on which the dependence is critical, distribution mechanism is key to stabilisation of supplies and prices. That's where, experts believe, TCB has a role, it is hardly in a position to live up to.
On a sideline, a few hundred makeshift kuchcha markets have sprung up in the metropolis as a measure of abundant supply of seasonal vegetables; yet no sign of their prices coming down!
The government's food procurement drive in the thick of boro harvest has failed to produce the desired outcome. So the decision to import wheat from Russia, but drought in that country and heavy rains in Canada have led the former to ban export and left the latter without surplus wheat to export respectively. Rice prices have been under pressure for some time and now the import crunch as far as wheat goes. Thus, building a buffer stock remains a food security challenge. We need to be in a comfort zone there, something the government should plan ahead for.