Traders Turn to India to Help Cool Soaring Green Chilli Prices

Staff Correspondent

Dhaka: As the production of green chillies in the country has been disrupted due to continuous rains and floods, the price of the crop has increased abnormally in the market. In various green markets in the capital, one kilogram of green chillies is being sold for Tk 320 to Tk 400. Just a week or two ago, it was between Tk 150-200.

The government has allowed the import of green chillies and decided to reduce the existing duty to control prices. Agriculture Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that the import process has started. The prices are expected to come down to a tolerable level within two to five days.

Traders have already turned to India. Indian raw chilies have started arriving through various land ports including Hili and Benapole. Permission has been granted to import several thousand tons at Hili land port. In the past, when there was a shortage of chilies in the country, the market was managed by importing from India.

Market analysts say that the dependence on India to control the prices of daily necessities is increasing day by day. This dependence is evident in several products, including onions and garlic, in addition to green chilies. They believe that this trend will continue unless local production is increased and the supply chain is strengthened.

Buyers are complaining that lower and middle-class families are struggling due to the unbridled increase in prices. Traders say that it is not possible to reduce retail prices due to low supply in the wholesale market.

While the government wants to stabilize the market by increasing imports quickly, experts are advising that it should focus on increasing domestic production in the long term. Otherwise, dependence on neighboring countries to control the market for daily necessities will increase.