Agri Biz
Vegetable Prices in Dhaka Markets Witness Significant Decline
The prices of most vegetables in various markets in the city are on a declining trend due to abundant supplies of early winter vegetables in the country over the past two weeks.
Prices of various vegetables, including beans, eggplants, radishes, cucurbits, yard-long beans, cauliflower, cabbage, papaya, okra, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, sweet gourd, and green chili, have seen a decrease of Tk 20-30 compared to their prices two weeks ago.
“Two weeks ago, vegetable prices reached a maximum of Tk 80-120 per kilogram in the city markets, but they have been significantly declining since then,” said Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, a vegetable retailer at Hazrat Shah Ali kitchen market, Mirpur-1.
“Vegetables like beans, eggplants, yard-long beans, and bitter gourds are now being sold at Tk 60-80 per kilogram, whereas they were Tk 80-120 two weeks ago,” said Md. Jewel, a retailer at Karwan Bazar, a hub for vegetables.
Retailer Taiyab expressed hope that vegetable prices would continue to decrease over the next two weeks, especially after a 100% arrival of vegetables in the city’s kitchen markets.
The prices of bundles of green leafy vegetables, including spinach, water spinach, and Malabar spinach, have also seen a 50% decrease compared to their previous prices.
However, the prices of newly-harvested potatoes, tomatoes, and carrots remain relatively high, ranging from Tk 120-140 per kilogram.
One resident, Mohammad Khalil, attributed the decline in vegetable prices to the sufficient supply of winter vegetables.
While prices are decreasing, advocate Mahmudul Hasan from Judge Court, Dhaka, suggested that the government should properly monitor prices, as they can vary from market to market.
Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akter announced plans to establish an international laboratory in Bangladesh to issue accredited certificates, supporting the roadmap for exporting agricultural products. The country is also developing a world-class packaging system and training around 200,000 farmers to produce commodities meeting global demands.
Expressing optimism, Akter anticipates Bangladesh’s capacity to export agricultural products to all countries within the next two years. She addressed these initiatives at a workshop titled “Export of Agro Products: Challenges and Way Forward” at the Bangladesh Agriculture Research Council.
While acknowledging global praise for Bangladesh’s agricultural products, Akter stressed the need to enhance exports and reduce production costs. The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a dedicated export desk to expand the export of agricultural products.
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Dr Nahid Rashid, and other officials discussed the challenges and opportunities for agricultural exports. Ghosh emphasized the importance of private sector investment in agri-processed industries and urged entrepreneurs to contribute to the agricultural sector’s growth.
In summary, Bangladesh is proactively taking steps to strengthen its position in the global agricultural market by focusing on certification, packaging, and training, with a vision to boost exports in the coming years.
Agri Biz
Govt Approves Procurement of 90,000 Metric Tons of Fertilizer, 1.10cr Liters of Soybean Oil
During the 39th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP), the government approved several crucial proposals. This includes the procurement of 90,000 metric tons of fertilizer and 1.10 crore liters of soybean oil, aiming to meet the rising demand in the country.
Two separate proposals were also given the green light for fixing the power tariff for two power plants. The state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will be responsible for procuring soybean oil from Green Nation Builders & Developers in India. Cabinet Division additional secretary, Sayeed Mahbub Khan, shared details on the approved power tariffs. This includes the 11 MW waste-based power plant in Brahmanbaria and the 100MW AC solar-based power plant in Sonagazi.
Furthermore, the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) received approval for the procurement of urea fertilizer. The BCIC will acquire consignments from Muntajat in Qatar, KAFCO in Bangladesh, and SABIC Agri Nutrients Company in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the CCGP meeting greenlit a road project involving the upgrading of the Aricha-Gheor-Doulatpur-Nagarpur-Tangail regional highway.
In a separate meeting, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs convened and approved the maintenance of the import agreement for non-urea fertilizer from six countries. These include Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Canada, Russia, and Belarus. The government will also initiate the procurement of non-urea fertilizer (TSP, DAP, MoP) from three more countries: China, Malaysia, and Jordan.
In the kitchen markets of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, vegetable prices have surged following late autumn rains that have damaged crops. Most vegetables have seen price increases ranging from Tk 20 to Tk 40 per kilogram, now selling between Tk 80 and Tk 120 per kilogram as of Friday.
Traders and wholesalers at Karwan Bazar, Dhaka’s primary vegetable supply hub, noted that early varieties of winter vegetables have entered the market. However, heavy rain has led to extensive damage in vegetable fields in Dhaka and its neighboring regions, including Narsingdi, Gazipur, Naraynganj, Tangail, Bogra, Jashore, and Kushtia, which are major suppliers to the capital.
Sukkur Ali, a wholesale trader at Karwan Bazar, highlighted a notable decrease in the number of vegetable-loaded trucks arriving at his store, from the usual 6 to 7 down to 3 to 4. This supply shortage has driven up both wholesale and retail vegetable prices.
The situation has left middle and lower-class families feeling the impact, as vendors explain that insufficient vegetables have reached the market, contributing to the relatively high prices. However, there is optimism that as winter progresses, prices may begin to ease.
For example, eggplants were being sold at Tk 120 per kilogram, brinjal (long) at Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kilogram, and green chili at Tk 220 to Tk 250 per kilogram, with variations based on quality. The price range extended to various other vegetables, including beans, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, bitter gourd, okra, cucumber, sponge gourd, arum, radish, green papaya, French beans, snake gourd, and more.
The report also highlighted price fluctuations in items such as onions, garlic, ginger, and lentils, in addition to other food staples like sugar, molasses, and flattened rice. The article further touched upon the prices of rice varieties, flour, and cooking oil.
Furthermore, the fish market experienced price increases of Tk 40 to Tk 80 per kilogram due to government regulations prohibiting Hilsha fishing. Various fish types were mentioned, each with its price range.
Meat prices were also featured, with beef at Tk 780 to Tk 800 per kilogram and mutton at Tk 1,150 to Tk 1,180 per kilogram. Poultry prices, including boiler chickens and eggs, were highlighted.
