Economic Reporter :
Prices of the cooking ingredients including onion, garlic and ginger witnessed upward trend in the city’s kitchen markets in the last seven days.
The prices of green chilli increased further the last week in the city kitchen markets as it hit Tk 200-220 per kilogram (kg) on Thursday. In the day’s green chilli price was the highest in the current year, said traders.
Traders said that the prices of green chilli has soared because of a supply shortage as most of the chilli producing areas of the country have been damaged due to the current flood.
Anowar Hossain Babul, a vegetable vendor in the city’s Rayer Bazar, said prices of green chilli increased more than 100 per cent in the last couple of weeks. The price increased by Tk 30 -50 a kg in one week, he mentioned.
He said the wholesale price of green chilli was Tk 180 a kg on Friday. He also said that it was the highest price of green chilli this year.
Saidul Islam, a trader at Karwan Bazar, said the chilli price might rise further due to prolonged flood in Rangpur, Gaibandha, Jamalpur, Manikganj, Bogura and other hubs.
He said most of the chilli fields in Jamalpur district have been inundated by floodwater.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) data also showed more than 8,000 hectares of chilli fields have been damaged by the deluge so far. Bangladesh produces 0.14 million tonnes of green chilli annually. Green chilli is widely used in many cuisines as a spice to add heat to dishes.
Onion prices increased by Tk 5.0 a kg as local varieties were selling at Tk 45-50 and imported ones at Tk 30-40 a kg on the day.
Ginger prices witnessed a Tk 20 hike as was selling at Tk 130-150 per kg. Garlic also became costlier by Tk 20-30 a kg as was sold at Tk 100-130 a kg at retails on Friday.
