The prices of vegetables soared on the kitchen markets in the capital Dhaka as the ongoing heatwave in many parts in the country lowered the production of vegetables and increased the output costs of the items, traders said.
Traders said that the supply of vegetables decreased in the markets over the week as the heatwave sweeping over the country hampered the growth of vegetables.
Large quantities of summer vegetables have been damaged in the farmland in many parts of the country due to the drought-like situation and at the same time additional irrigation pushed up the cost of production, they said.
The prices of most of the vegetables increased by Tk 10-20 a kilogram in both farm and wholesale levels in the past week due to a supply shortage.
Considering the ongoing heatwave, the Department of Agricultural Extension has recently issued a set of recommendations for farmers.
The DEA suggested at least 2-3 irrigations in a week in the farmland to protect the vegetables during the heatwave.
The prices of aubergine increased by Tk聽20-30 a kilogram in the past one week and the item sold for Tk聽60-80 a kilogram while papaya increased by Tk聽20 a kilogram and the vegetable sold for Tk聽50-60 a kilogram in the city on Friday.
The prices of pointed gourd and okra increased by Tk聽10-20 a kilogram and the items sold for Tk聽60-80 a kilogram and Tk聽60-70 a kilogram respectively on the city markets.
Meanwhile, moringa and better bitter gourds sold for Tk聽90-100 a kilogram on Friday.
Prices of potatoes remained steady at high prices for the past two weeks and the vegetable sold for Tk聽55-60 a kilogram on the city markets.
Prices of eggs increased by Tk 2 a hali (four pieces) in the past one week and the item sold for Tk聽42-44 a hali on Friday.
The price of local garlic increased by Tk 30-40 a kilogram on the kitchen markets in Dhaka and the item retailed at Tk 170鈥�200 a kilogram while the imported item sold for Tk 220鈥�240 a kilogram.
The price of inions also remained steady at high prices and its local variety sold for Tk 60-70 a kilogram while the imported item sold for Tk 60-75 a kilogram on the kitchen markets in the city.
The prices of most of the other commodities including rice, beef and red lentil remained high in the city.
