A relief for consumers

Prices of several essential items have fallen in the second week of Ramadan, bringing some relief to consumers in Dhaka. However, traders say the sharp decline is hurting producers at the farm level.

A visit to kitchen markets in Shewrapara, Kazipara, Ibrahimpur, Farmgate, and Karwan Bazar showed noticeable price drops in vegetables, fruits, and some protein items compared to the first days of Ramadan.

Lemons, which sold for Tk 150–200 for four normal-sized pieces two weeks ago, are now priced at Tk 100–120. Slightly smaller lemons, previously Tk 100–120 for four pieces, are now Tk 50–60, while the smallest ones have dropped from Tk 40 to Tk 30.

Cucumber prices have also declined. Local varieties that had reached Tk 160 per kg are now selling at Tk 120. Hybrid cucumbers, which were retailing between Tk 100 and Tk 120 per kg at Karwan Bazar and Mohammadpur Geneva Camp market, are now priced between Tk 60 and Tk 100.

Prices of tomatoes have dropped sharply, from Tk 60–80 per kg to Tk 30–60.

Onion prices have also dropped significantly in retail markets. “Before Ramadan, onions were Tk 200 for 3kg. Today, I bought the same amount for Tk 120,” said Awlad Hossain, a customer at Shewrapara Bazar, affirming that prices had spiked at the beginning of Ramadan but eased in the second week.

Retailers said onions that were selling at Tk 60–70 per kg are now priced at Tk 35–40, while potato prices have declined from Tk 20–25 to Tk 15–20 per kg.

Fruit prices show a similar trend. Sagar bananas are now selling for Tk 150–160 per dozen, down from Tk 180–200. Apples and malta prices have dropped by about Tk 50 per kg from earlier rates of Tk 350–380. Thai papaya, which was selling for up to Tk 200 per kg, is now priced between Tk 120 and Tk 160, while local varieties have declined to Tk 80–100 from Tk 100–120.

In the protein segment, beef prices have eased slightly, now Tk 750–800 per kg compared to Tk 770–800 earlier. Mutton remains unchanged at Tk 1,300 per kg.

Eggs are now selling at Tk 100–120 per dozen, while broiler chicken prices have dropped from Tk 190–200 per kg to Tk 180–190. Sonali chicken remains steady at Tk 300 per kg.

Rice prices have also remained stable, with wholesalers attributing the trend to a slight dip in demand during the fasting month.

“Vegetable supplies are increasing, but the number of customers is low, leading to a fall in prices,” said Saifur Rahman Chowdhury Sujan, general secretary of the Karwan Bazar Brihattar Paikari Kacha Bazar Arot Byabasayi Malik Samity. “Excessive price hikes are not good, but sharp drops are also harmful for farmers. There should be a fair and reasonable price.”

Abul Kalam, a trader at Karwan Bazar, said the production cost of onions in Faridpur this season was Tk 36–37 per kg. At the beginning of Ramadan, farmers sold onions at Tk 46–47 per kg and made a profit. Now, prices at the farm level have fallen to Tk 24–25 per kg.

Onions are being sold at Tk 27–28 per kg in the wholesale market in Dhaka, he said. “Customers are getting onions at lower prices, but producers are facing losses.”

Md Sabuj, a potato trader at Karwan Bazar, said they are buying potatoes from villages at Tk 7.5 per kg and selling them at Tk 10 per kg in the wholesale market, while labour and transport cost Tk 2.5 per kg. Although retail prices in Dhaka stand at Tk 15–20 per kg, farmers are incurring losses of Tk 4–5 per kg.

Md Mosharraf Hossain, a vegetable seller at Karwan Bazar, said prices of several Ramadan-related vegetables usually remain high at the beginning of the month and fall as demand declines.

“This year, prices of onions and potatoes have fallen more sharply,” he said, adding that lemons, green chillies, cucumbers, tomatoes, and brinjals have also become cheaper as demand eased after the initial rush.