Potato prices up, onions down; meat, veg stable
At several markets, including Shahjadpur, Rampura, Karwan Bazar and Kalyanpur, potatoes were being sold at Tk70-80 per kilogram, up from last week’s price of Tk65-70
- Prices of vegetables, fish and meat relatively stable
- Onion prices also down by Tk10-20 per kg wholesale
- Traders refrain from potato import due to high costs
- High potato prices blamed on multiple middlemen
Potato prices have risen by Tk10 per kilogram within a week, reaching Tk70-80 per kilogram in the capital's retail markets, while onion prices have dropped by Tk10-20 per kilogram due to increased imports from India.
Prices of other vegetables, fish and meat have remained relatively stable.
Market sources attributed the surge in potato prices to the end of the season, leading to reduced supply and higher storage costs. Traders have also refrained from importing potatoes due to high costs.
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In contrast, the steady supply of imported onions has contributed to the decline in their prices.
At several markets, including Shahjadpur, Rampura, Karwan Bazar and Kalyanpur, potatoes were being sold at Tk70-80 per kilogram, up from last week's price of Tk65-70.
Wholesale prices have also increased, with potatoes selling at Tk63-66 per kilogram in the wholesale market, compared to Tk61.50 at the cold storage gate.
Md Iliyas, a wholesale potato trader in Karwan Bazar, told TBS, "Due to the end of the season, the supply of potatoes is very low. Prices are unlikely to decline until new potatoes enter the market and may even increase further."
Potato prices have remained high throughout the year, going up to as much as Tk55-60 per kilogram in April, an unusual trend compared to previous years.
Market analysts believe that the involvement of multiple middlemen, along with cold storage owners' influence, has kept prices elevated.
SM Najer Hossain, vice president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, criticised the current market structure, saying, "Farmers are unable to store potatoes directly due to a system designed to favour middlemen. Cold storage owners, in collaboration with these intermediaries, have manipulated prices from the beginning of the year. As a result, consumers have suffered consistently and farmers have been left at a disadvantage despite their hard work."
He added that the government must take decisive action to address this issue as well as set up state-run cold storages to break the monopoly of private owners.
He further said that farmers should also have access to direct loans, eliminating their reliance on large businessmen who use these loans as leverage to destabilise the market.
While potato prices have risen, local onions are now selling at Tk120-130 per kilogram in retail markets, with imported varieties priced at Tk100-110.
This marks a significant decrease from last week when local onions were sold at Tk140-150 and imported onions at Tk110-120 per kilogram.
According to traders, the arrival of new Indian onions has stabilised prices.
"Local onions are selling at Tk110 per kilogram in the wholesale market, and Indian onions are at Tk90. With consistent imports, prices are unlikely to rise further this season," said Md Babul Mia, general secretary of the Karwan Bazar Onion Traders Association.
The supply of winter vegetables has increased, but prices have not dropped significantly.
Brinjal is being sold at Tk80-120 per kilogram, radish at Tk50-60, turnip at Tk100, and okra at Tk70-80. Cauliflower and cabbage are priced at Tk50-60 per piece, while bottle gourd is available at Tk60-70.
Fish and meat prices have remained steady. Broiler chicken is selling at Tk180-190 per kilogram, Sonali chicken at Tk300-310 and eggs at Tk150 per dozen. Beef is priced at Tk700-800 per kilogram, while mutton costs Tk1,000-1,150.
In the fish markets, Ruhi and Catla are being sold at Tk320-400 per kilogram, farmed Koi at Tk250-280, Tilapia at Tk240-250, and Pangas at Tk220-230, depending on quality.
While the vegetable supply has improved, the rising cost of potatoes continues to be a burden for consumers. Traders predict that prices will remain high until the arrival of new crops, underscoring the need for systemic changes to prevent recurring supply shortages and price hikes.
