From Farm to Table: Vegetable Prices in Rajshahi Increase by Tk20-40 per kg

Rajshahi's vegetable market is experiencing significant turmoil, reflecting a nationwide trend. Prices for essential goods like rice, lentils, and fish remain elevated.

Despite an adequate food supply, vegetable prices are still on the rise, primarily due to poor management and insufficient regulatory oversight. The practices of profit-driven sellers and stockpilers are further burdening lower- and middle-income families.

A recent visit to several local markets in the city—including Saheb Bazar, Court Bazar, Shiroil, and New Market—on Friday revealed that prices for everyday essentials are unusually high, with sellers attributing the situation to recent flooding.

Although there has been a slight decrease in prices compared to the previous week, the cost of vegetables continues to rise by Tk 20-40 per kg as they move from producers to consumers.

Vendors indicate that the supply of vegetables has not yet stabilized, but they expect prices to decline as more winter vegetables become available in the upcoming days.

Currently, vegetable prices have dropped by Tk10-20 per kg compared to last week, and further reductions are anticipated. Vendors point out that transportation costs and other expenses are contributing to the price increases between farmers and consumers.

For instance, cauliflower is now being sold for Tk80-90 per kg in the market, down from Tk120 per kg last week, while farmers are selling it for Tk55-60 per kg. A cauliflower farmer from Poba, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared, "Last week, I sold cauliflower for Tk75 per kg at the wholesale market. This week, I had to sell it for Tk60 per kg, but I hear it's being sold at Tk100 per kg in retail. With better oversight, we could achieve better prices, and customers wouldn't be exploited."

On Friday, other vegetables like gourd, radish, ridge gourd, snake gourd, and cucumber were priced between Tk60-100 per kg, down from Tk80-120 last week. Eggplant was sold for Tk100 per kg, while okra and bitter gourd fetched Tk120 per kg. Bottle gourd ranged from Tk60-70 each, and potatoes were priced at Tk55-60 per kg. 

Green chilies were selling for Tk320-350 per kg, down from last week's Tk360-380, while onions varied between Tk90-110 per kg based on the variety. Ginger and garlic were priced at Tk280 and Tk240 per kg, respectively.

Liton Ali, a vegetable vendor at Saheb Bazar, noted that prices have been gradually decreasing over the past few days. "In the next 10-15 days, we expect local winter vegetables to arrive in the market, leading to a significant price drop."

Meanwhile, poultry prices remain high, with broiler chicken priced at Tk190 per kg, local chicken at Tk470, Sonali chicken at Tk270, and Pati duck at Tk400. 

In the egg market, white farm eggs were sold at Tk48 for four, duck eggs at Tk70, and local chicken eggs at Tk62 for four.

Fish prices also vary, with Pangas at Tk180-200 per kg, Rui at Tk300, Silver Carp at Tk220-250, Mrigal at Tk250, Catla at Tk350, Tilapia at Tk200, Pabda at Tk500, local Koi at Tk600, and Boal at Tk500 per kg.

Abdul Alim, whose father is a farmer, expressed frustration, stating, "I live in the city, but my father grows vegetables in the village. Despite all his hard work, he sells them at low prices, but when I come to the market, the prices are often double or more. This clearly shows a failure in oversight, making life difficult for low-income families like ours."

Vegetable vendor Jamshed Ali mentioned the daily fluctuations in prices. "On Friday, I had to buy vegetables for Tk80 per kg, which I purchased for Tk70 earlier in the week. Prices could rise again in a few days. We're operating under these conditions, and our profit margins are slim."

Umme Salma, deputy director of the Rajshahi Department of Agricultural Extension, remarked that while some crops were affected by recent rainfall, the damage is not significant. "We anticipate that once winter vegetables enter the market, the pressure will ease considerably."

To ensure stability in the essential goods market in Rajshahi, a task force has been set up to monitor the situation. 

Zobaer Ahmed, Rajshahi's additional deputy commissioner and head of the task force, stated, "We have conducted inspections of wholesale markets and warehouses and issued guidelines to all traders, urging them to maintain reasonable prices for essential goods and ensure fair profits. Traders have promised compliance, and we will continue regular market monitoring."

Ghulam Mustafa Mamun, general secretary of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in Rajshahi, affirmed, "We are actively monitoring the market. The government has established a task force committee, and we are warning traders. If they do not comply, we will take stricter actions."