Rajshahi, Apr 19, (V7N) – The vegetable market in Rajshahi has become more volatile over the past week. The price per kg has increased by 20-30 taka compared to last week. Additionally, the price of onions has also increased, and traders fear further price increases in the future.
This situation was observed during visits to several markets in Rajshahi on Saturday, April 19th. Shoppers are finding the unstable market conditions concerning.
Vendors attribute the price increases to supply disruptions following Eid, leading to a shortage of vegetables.
| Vegetable | Current Price (Tk/kg) | Last Week | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitter Gourd | 70 | 50-60 | +10-20 |
| Brinjal | 50-60 | 40-50 | +10 |
| Barabati | 80 | 65 | +15 |
| Lathi | 60 | 50 | +10 |
| Dhandas | 50 | 30 | +20 |
| Tomatoes | 30 | 20 | +10 |
| Papaya | 50 | 30 | +20 |
| Carrot | 40 | 30 | +10 |
| Cucumber | 50 | 30 | +20 |
| Potol | 40 | 25 | +15 |
| Beans | 25-30 | 25-30 | — |
| Sajane Data | 100-120 | 80-100 | +20 |
| Coriander | 30-40 | 20-30 | +10 |
| Rice Gourd | 50 per piece | — | — |
| Gourd | 60-70 per piece | 30-40 | +30 |
| Green Chillies | 80 (retail), 60-70 (wholesale) | — | — |
Meanwhile, lemon prices have dropped significantly, now selling for Tk 20-30 per dozen, down from Tk 60-80 per half-dozen during Ramadan. Lemon seller Monowar Hossain attributes the decline to new crop arrivals and the onset of rain, predicting further decreases.
Local onion prices have surged to Tk 55-60 per kilogram, up from Tk 40-45 last week. Traders warn that prices could increase further in the coming days.
Md. Siam, an onion seller in Rajshahi, said the price spike was sudden and unexplained. He expects continued volatility due to low supply and speculative storage.
Onion farmer Sadhan Ali of Durgapur confirmed that prices rose by Tk 840 per maund in just one week, prompting him to store his remaining 22 maunds at home. He has already sold Tk 24,400 worth of onions and expects to earn Tk 47,000 more, estimating a profit of Tk 41,000 on a Tk 30,000 investment.
Farmer General Islam, who cultivated onions on two bighas with a Tk 50,000 loan, has sold 6 maunds and plans to sell more gradually to maximize profits. He harvested about 220 maunds and aims to repay his loan with the next round of sales.
Other farmers, including Enamul Haque and Nazrul Islam, shared mixed experiences. Some, lacking storage, sold early and suffered losses when prices were still low.
At Taherpur Hat, Rajshahi’s largest onion market, 30-40 trucks of onions are traded on market days (Mondays and Fridays). Traders like Rafiqul Islam and Bablur Rahman report a near doubling of prices over the past 3 weeks, with forecasts of Tk 2,000 per maund in the next market session—unless rainfall compels farmers to sell quickly.
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, onion cultivation in Rajshahi exceeded its target this season. While the goal was 18,585 hectares, a total of 21,506 hectares were cultivated. Around 85% of the crop has been harvested, with 15% still in the fields.
Unlike onions and vegetables, potato prices remain steady at Tk 20-22 per kg. Chicken prices, on the other hand, have dropped:
Broiler: Tk 180 (↓10)
Golden Chicken: Tk 250-270 (↓20-30)
Local Chicken: Tk 650-680
White Layer: Tk 270
Red Layer: Tk 280
Duck: Tk 600-700 per piece
Beef and mutton prices remain unchanged at Tk 750 and Tk 1,250 per kg respectively, while goat meat is priced at Tk 1,100.
Fish prices have inched upward, with Hilsa leading the chart:
| Fish | Price (Tk/kg) |
|---|---|
| Rui | 350-420 |
| Katal | 380-450 |
| Sing (cultivated) | 550 |
| Magur (cultivated) | 500 |
| Koi (cultivated) | 200-250 |
| Coral | 750 |
| Pangash | 180-230 |
| Tilapia | 150-220 |
| Boal | 750-850 |
| Poya | 450 |
| Ai | 800-900 |
| Tengra | 650-700 |
| Desi Koi | 1,300-1,700 |
| Shing | 1,400-1,500 |
| Hilsa | 2,200 (per kg) |
| Hilsa (1.5 kg) | 2,500 |
| Hilsa (800-900g) | 2,000 |
| Hilsa (500-600g) | 1,400-1,500 |
The rice market remains unstable. Prices are as follows:
Miniket: Tk 86-90
Atash: Tk 60-62
Nazirshail: Tk 76-88
Polao Rice: Tk 116-118
Oil Market Settles
Following recent volatility, edible oil supply has stabilized:
Bottled Soybean Oil: Tk 189 per liter
Raw Soybean Oil: Tk 169
Palm Oil: Tk 169
5L Bottled Soybean Oil: Tk 922
Consumers and traders alike are urging increased government monitoring to curb speculation and stabilize prices. Faizul Islam, president of Rajshahi Masterpara Raw Market Association, confirmed the price hikes are tied to supply constraints but expressed hope that increased market arrivals will cool prices soon.
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