By Badal Nur

DHAKA, Oct 16, 2024 (BSS) - Traders and concerned government officials blamed incessant rains, floods and lean season for price rise of vegetables in different markets here.

"Vegetable production is now low due to off season and recent floods damaged a lot of vegetable farm land in 13 districts, leading to less supply causing sharp rise in price of vegetables," Department of Agricultural Marketing Director General (DG) Md. Masud Karim told BSS.

He also expressed his hope that the vegetables price will decline in the next month.

Karim also said the government has taken steps to sell eggs, potatoes, onions, papayas, bitter gourd, pointed gourd, green chilies, arum (kachur mukhi) and gourd at subsidized price in city markets to reduce people's economic hardship.

Traders echoed Karim saying: "Somewhat mismanagement, incessant rains, heavy floods and low production and supply shortages for lean season contributes to price hike of vegetables in city markets".

They said price of most of the vegetables is in rising trend as potato sells for Tk 55 per kg, green chilies for TK 400 per kg, brinjal for Tk 140-180 per kg, snake gourd for Tk 80 per kg, bitter gourd for Tk 120-100 per kg, cucumber at Tk 60 per kg, gourd for Tk 100 per piece and bean for Tk 320 per kg at Nawabganj and Palashi markets here.

Cucumber sells at Tk 60 per kg, tomato at Tk 200 per kg, cauliflower for Tk 80 per piece, cabbage at Tk 60 per piece, pumpkin at Tk 60 per piece, papaya for Tk 40 per kg, asparagus bean for Tk 160 per kg and onion at Tk 110-120 per kg.

Vegetable seller of Nawabganj market Md. Sabuj said he sells vegetables at a high of TK 15-20 per kg than the wholesale market as he buys vegetables from Kawran Bazar wholesale market in the capital.

Traders said the country sees low vegetable production due to heavy rains and floods contributing to price rise of vegetables in the markets.

A buyer said usually vegetable price remains a bit higher at the lean period of autumn as heavy rain and flood also damaged the vegetable farmland this year, rising its price causing people to suffer.

Some middlemen are also responsible for its price hike, he added, urging the government to maintain strict monitoring in kitchen markets to contain audacity of the middlemen to keep controlling markets.