Due to the rain, 200 taka per kilo of raw pepper is being sold somewhere for 280 taka!
Due to continuous rains and floods, the price of raw chili has suddenly increased in the market of the capital. Just a month ago, raw chillies were available at Tk 100 to Tk 120 per kg, now they are selling at Tk 200 to Tk 280 depending on the market. Traders see disruption of vegetable production and supply due to rain as the main reason for price increase.
On Tuesday (July 21), a visit to Krishi Market, Town Hall Bazar, Karwan Bazar and Ashkona Hajkamp Bazar in the capital showed the price of green chillies.
There is quite a difference in the price of green chillies from market to market. In Mohammadpur agricultural market, raw chillies are being sold for Tk 200 to Tk 220 per kg. The price of the same product in the town hall market has increased from Tk 250 to Tk 280. On the other hand, good quality raw chillies are being sold at Tk 200 and regular chillies at around Tk 160 in Karwan Bazar.
Zakir Hossain, a buyer of Ashkona Hajcamp market, said that he bought 250 grams of green chillies for Tk 60. That is, the price per kg has fallen to Tk 240. He claimed that he had spent Rs 40 to buy the same quantity of green chillies just a week ago.
Traders say that due to continuous rains and floods, water has accumulated in vegetables in different parts of the country. Many crops were destroyed and the supply of vegetables in the market decreased. About a week and a half ago, incessant rains and floods caused a supply crisis. Then the price of green chillies also increased along with other vegetables. After that, the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain again across the country without normal supply. As a result, pressure has been created in the market to increase prices.
Al-Nahian, a vegetable seller at Mohammadpur Town Hall Market, said that the supply of green chillies in the wholesale market has decreased due to rain. However, the demand of buyers remains the same. As a result, prices have risen rapidly as supply has dwindled. The prices of other vegetables are also on the rise due to the same reason.
According to the traders, the prices of not only green chilli but almost all kinds of vegetables are high now. Currently, very few vegetables are available in the market of the capital under 100 rupees. They also fear that the price of vegetables may increase further if the supply situation worsens due to rains and floods.
Meanwhile, along with green chillies, the prices of onions have also increased. A week ago onion was sold at Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg but now it has increased to Tk 45 to Tk 50.
All in all, continuous rains and floods have affected the capital's vegetable market. If the production and supply is not normal, market participants fear that the prices of green chillies and other vegetables will increase further in the coming days.
