The price of onion in the market has risen 10 to 15 taka a kilogram. As a result, each kilogram of onion is selling for 45 to 55 taka. In some markets of the capital the price of onion is 60 taka a kilogram. A week or so ago a kilogram of onion could be bought at the retail level for 35 to 45 taka.
Along with onion, chicken, eggs, vegetables and various kinds of fish are selling at higher prices than before. The prices of these goods have risen mainly because much produce has spoilt due to rain and because supply has fallen relative to demand.
This information was learned by touring the Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Town Hall bazar, Agargaon Taltola bazar and Hatirpool bazar in the capital yesterday, Thursday, and by speaking to sellers.
Onion wholesalers said farmers are currently busy cutting, transporting and selling jute. Farmers are bringing comparatively less onion to the wholesale markets at various production centres. With supply falling, the price of the commodity has risen somewhat.
Meanwhile, in Santhia upazila of Pabna, one of the main onion-producing areas, onion prices have been rising for two weeks. At various wholesale markets of the upazila yesterday, each maund of onion sold for 1,400 to 1,700 taka. That works out to 35 to 42.5 taka a kilogram. This price rises further by the time it reaches Dhaka’s wholesale market. For instance, onion is selling for 45 to 47 taka in the wholesale market at Dhaka’s Shyambazar.
Farmers have expressed relief at the rise in onion prices. Raja Hossain, an onion farmer and trader at Boyalmari haat in Santhia, said that two weeks ago each maund of onion had sold for 1,000 to 1,200 taka. At that price farmers were not even recovering their production costs. Because farmers are busy cutting jute, low supply has pushed onion prices up. But even though prices have risen, farmers still have plenty of onion stored at home, he said.
Egg prices in the market are now high. A dozen brown farm eggs are selling for 140 taka. Neighbourhood shops are charging even more. Chicken prices are also up. In the market yesterday, broiler chicken was selling for 200 taka a kilogram and sonali chicken for 320 to 350 taka depending on type. Three weeks ago these prices were another 30 to 40 taka lower per kilogram. The prices of rui, tilapia and pangas fish are also higher than a month ago. The price of rui fish in particular is up by about 50 taka a kilogram.
Several spells of continuous rain and flooding this month have driven up the prices of almost all kinds of vegetables. In the market, hardly any vegetable can be bought for under 80 taka. Quite a few vegetables are above 100 taka. Within a month, vegetable prices have risen by 20 to 60 taka a kilogram depending on the type.
For instance, green chilli sold for 240 to 280 taka a kilogram in the market yesterday. A month ago chilli could be bought for 120 to 140 taka — that is, the price has doubled. Among other vegetables yesterday, brinjal sold for 100 to 120 taka a kilogram, while yardlong beans, snake gourd, ridge gourd, okra, bitter gourd and the like sold for 80 to 100 taka.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report