Prices of eggs and vegetables have gone up sharply in the kitchen markets of Narsingdi. A dozen eggs are now sold at Tk 114 to Tk 120 against the rate of Tk 84-Tk 90 two weeks ago. Traders said supply of poultry products is currently low in the markets. Bhai Bhai Traders and Poultry Farm owner Bimol Chandra Das claimed that the continuous price hike of medicines and acute crisis of feed were some of the reasons behind the rise in the prices of egg. This has also led to shutting down of a large number of farms in the area, he said. There are incidences of mortality in the poultry farms due to use of adulterated poultry feed and spurious medicines. As a result, the prices of poultry birds and eggs have kept increasing. The wholesale prices for every 20 piece eggs now ranged between Tk 180 to Tk 190. It was Tk 150 to Tk 155 in the past week, said Abdus Salam, poultry farm owner of Chaitonya village in Shibpur upazila. Wholesaler Tarikul Islam of Bhelanagar area said egg production has fallen by about 50 per cent in the recent weeks due to shutdown of poultry farms. According to sources, prices of all kinds of vegetables have risen in the markets of all six upazilas of the district during the last one month due to the damage caused to the crops by the floods. Growers have been frustrated by the loss of vegetables in the fields due to the water-logging.  “I just earn between Tk 330 and Tk 350 a day, but now it is impossible for me to maintain my family with this income due to price hike of essentials,” said Abul Kashem, a day labourer of Ghoradia village near Narsingdi town.
At the retail markets, aubergine is selling at Tk 80 per kilogram; but 30 days ago its prices Tk 50 per kilogram, cucumber is selling at Tk 40 per kilogram against Tk 25, ladies finger at Tk 60 per kilogram against Tk 30, bitter gourd is selling at Tk 80 against Tk 50 and green chilli is selling at Tk 180 per kilogram against Tk80. Zainal Abedin, a wholesaler at Narsingdi Bara Bazsar said vegetables are not available in the wholesale market. “I have to go to Jangi Shibpur bazaar for purchasing vegetable for the purpose of business,” he said. He said green chilli was selling at wholesale market at Tk 150 to Tk 155 per kilograme  and in the retail market it will be sold at Tk 180 per kg. Sources at the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Narsingdi said heavy downfall and water-logging in the fields have damaged vegetables on about 1,500 hectares of land fully and those on 2,300 hectares partially out of total 8, 700 hectares. But the damage rate is higher than the government figures, farmers alleged.