Prices of chicken, potatoes fall, rice price remains high

The prices of broiler and Sonalika chicken and potatoes have decreased slightly in the market over the past week. However, the price of rice remains high as before. And the price of onion has also increased by Tk 2-3 in the wholesale market.

This information was obtained from kitchen markets in Sheorapara, Agargaon Taltala and Mohammadpur Krishi Market in the capital on Thursday.

Local vendors say the prices of broiler and Sonalika chicken have been declining for two weeks. Two weeks ago, the price of broiler chicken was Tk 200-210 per kg. The price dropped by Tk 10 per kg nearly a week ago.

The price of broiler chicken dropped by another Tk 10 yesterday, Thursday. The price of broiler chicken now stands at Tk 180-190 per kg. As such the price of broiler chicken has dropped by Tk 20 per kg in the space of two weeks.

The price of Sonalika chicken was Tk 300-330 per kg last week. It was sold at a price of Tk 280-310 per kg yesterday. That means the price of Sonalika chicken also dropped by Tk 20 per kg. However, the price of farm eggs remains the same. The price of a dozen eggs stands between Tk 125-130 depending on the market. The price is Tk 5-10 more at local retail shops.

Meanwhile, most of the shops in the markets across the capital are selling local new onions. Imported onions are available only at a few shops. The price of onion was Tk 50-60 per kg at retail yesterday and it was the same as the previous week.

However, the onion sellers in Karwan Bazar say that the price has increased by Tk 2-3 per kg at wholesale. There has been no impact of this at retail as yet. Among the other spice items, the price of garlic was Tk 230-240, imported ginger Tk 230-240 and local ginger was Tk 120-130 on Thursday.

Potato price falls

The price of potatoes is significantly low in the market at the moment. Per kg potato was sold at a price of Tk 20-25 yesterday, which was Tk 25-30 the previous week. So the price of potatoes has declined by Tk 5 per kg.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) the price of potato almost halved in the last one month. The price of potatoes is low as compared to the previous year too. TCB figures show the price of potatoes at the same time last year was Tk 45-50. The sellers say, the supply of new potatoes has increased exponentially in the market. So the price of potatoes is falling.

Rice prices increased by Tk 5-8 per kg last month. Later, the government reduced the duty on rice and granted permission to import rice. Despite all these efforts, the price of rice has not come down.

The rice sellers say the rice mill owners raised the price of rice as the price of paddy has increased. The price of Minikate and Nazirshail rice was between Tk 80-90 per kg in the three major markets in the capital. The price of coarsed rice was Tk 54-58 and medium sized BRRI 28 and BRRI 29 rice was Tk 60-66.

However, the price of vegetables remains reasonable. There is enough supply of vegetables in the market amid the winter season. The prices of vegetables have been low for the last three to four weeks. There is a high demand for tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, radish and shalgom (a variety of turnip) in the market.

On Thursday, the price of cauliflower was Tk 15-20 per Kg, cabbage and broccoli was Tk 25-30, radish Tk 20, shalgom and onion flower stalk Tk 30-35, beans Tk 20-40, eggplant, tomato and gourd Tk 30-60, papaya 40-50 and green chili Tk 40-60.

However, the price of fish and meat remains almost the same. On Thursday, per kg koi (farmed) was sold at Tk 280, tilapia at Tk 250, pangash at Tk 220, and rui at Tk 350-380. In addition, the price per piece of one kg of hilsa was Tk 2700-2800.

Speaking to Prothom Alo, Humayun Kabir, a resident of Mirpur, said, “We struggle even if the cost is increased by Tk 100. The price of rice has been high for more than a month. Initiatives should be taken to curb the price.”