Bangladesh: Retail vegetable prices are way higher than wholesale rates

Vegetables

Bangladesh

Published May 20, 2023

Tridge summary

Okra sold at Tk20 per kg in Karwan Bazar wholesale market, while only around two kilometers away it sold at Tk40 in retail markets in Moghbazar area on Friday. The retail prices of vegetables were way higher than the wholesale rates in the city markets including the ones in Karwan Bazar, Dilu road, Hatirpool, Noyatola, and Moghbazar areas, said customers as well as traders. In Karwan Bazar, korolla (bitter gourd) sold at Tk40 to Tk45, chichinga (snake gourd) at Tk40, potol (pointed gourd) at Tk50, papaya at Tk40 to Tk45, dhundal (sponge gourd) at Tk40, potato at Tk35 per kg. , while medium

Original content

-sized gourds sold at Tk30 per piece at wholesale level on Friday. All the prices jumped by at least Tk10 at retail level in the same market. Meanwhile, korolla sold at Tk60, chichinga at Tk60, papaya at Tk70, potol at Tk80, potato at Tk40-45 per kg, and medium-sized gourds at Tk60 per piece at retail markets in Dilu road, Hatirpool, Noyatola, and Moghbazar. Asked why the retail prices were so much higher than the wholesale prices, Md Hridoy, a vegetable seller in Moghbazar, told TBS, "We have to pay shop rent along with transportation costs, which are very high. Besides, some of the vegetables we buy perish or get damaged. We would not be able to cover our expenses if we cannot sell vegetables at such high prices." Md Shahidul Islam, a shopper in Karwan Bazar, told TBS, "To buy vegetables at wholesale rate, I have to buy at least 5 kg, but I do not need one type of vegetable in such a large quantity. So, no matter how much I want to save money, I cannot buy it at a low price. ...

Source: TBS