Vegetable, fish prices climb as floods, rain disrupt supply

Prices of most vegetables and fish have risen further in the capital over the past week, as prolonged rainfall and recent floods across the country damaged crops and disrupted supply chains, squeezing low- and middle-income households.

The trend was visible Friday (July 24) at Karwan Bazar and several nearby markets in the capital. Green chillies were selling at Tk 200 to Tk 240 per kg, with prices exceeding Tk 260 in some markets. Cucumber was priced at Tk 120 per kg, yard-long beans at Tk 100 to Tk 120, pointed gourd at Tk 80, okra at Tk 60, papaya at Tk 40, eggplant at Tk 120 to Tk 150, onions at Tk 60, and kakrol at Tk 80 to Tk 90 per kg. Bottle gourd was selling at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per piece.

Jagannath, a vegetable seller at Khilkhet Bazar, said flooding had destroyed vegetable crops in many growing areas, while supply from unaffected regions had also thinned. He said wholesale prices had risen, forcing retailers to charge more.

Buyers voiced frustration over the mounting costs. Shamima, who had come to shop for groceries, said she now faces a new price every week at the market, recalling that Tk 1,000 once covered several days' worth of shopping but is now spent entirely on vegetables alone. Prema, a homemaker, said the price of green chillies, cucumber and eggplant had all climbed sharply, forcing her to repeatedly adjust the household budget and forgo some essential purchases.

Poultry prices also rose, with broiler chicken up Tk 20 to Tk 30 per kg over the week to sell at Tk 190 to Tk 200. Sonali and layer chicken were selling at Tk 350 per kg. Poultry seller Rubel Hossain said farm-gate prices had increased, and supply falling short of demand had pushed up retail rates as well.

Meat prices remained largely unchanged, with beef selling at Tk 750 to Tk 800 per kg and mutton at Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200. The egg market also remained unstable, with red eggs selling at Tk 135 to Tk 140 per dozen and white eggs at Tk 120 to Tk 125.

Fish prices edged higher as well. Rui was selling at Tk 350 to Tk 400 per kg, catla at Tk 350 to Tk 400, farmed pangas at Tk 200 to Tk 220, farmed koi at Tk 200, and tilapia at Tk 250 to Tk 260 per kg.