Prices of winter vegetables have soared high at different markets due to flood, damaging the early season respite for customers.
Picking up a bitter gourd at Kachari Bazar Market in the town, Porag Ali a customer asked the seller for its price.
Upon hearing the reply, his face instantly fell glum. "It's 80 taka. Don't bargain. Take it or leave it," was the seller's reply.
“It's small and can only serve two people. At most it should cost Tk 50. How can you ask for such a price?” Porag, a businessman asked. As the shopkeeper did not relent, Porag left the shop after buying half kg of brinjal at Tk 40.
Khadija Khatun, a university student who came to Kachari Bazar vegetable market, said the price of most of the vegetables were above Tk 60, whereas the situation was quite different three months ago.
“I live in a hostel. Students, especially the insolvent, are suffering a lot because of the price hike of the vegetable. Some of my friends have decided not to eat vegetables untill the price decreases”, she said.
Beans that were selling at Tk 90-100, Bitter gourd at Tk 75-80, New Potatos at Tk 100-120, Old Potatos at Tk 45-60, Tomatos at Tk 100, Cabbage at Tk 60-65, Carrot at Tk 80, Cauliflower at Tk 35-40, Long bean at Tk 80, Radish at Tk 60, Cucumber at Tk 60, Gourd at Tk 60 per piece according to market monitoring.
Prices of vegetable items such as brinjal, cauliflowers, cabbages, bottle gourd, tomato and potatoes marked a rise and so did onions. Vegetable prices doubled in three months at Boro Bazar Market, a major wholesale market in Kishoreganj.
Traders said flood affected both farming and transportation of vegetables, pushing up the prices. However, prices came down as the winter vegetables arrived in the market, they claimed.
“Vegetable production is affected by flood and this disrupted the supply chain,” retailer Akkas Ali said.