A recent field investigation reveals a staggering price gap in the vegetable supply chain, where pointed gourd (potol) sold by farmers at Tk 56 per kg in Jashore ends up costing consumers over Tk 100 in Dhaka.
The transition from the field to the kitchen involves at least five stages of middlemen, with prices jumping by Tk 8 to Tk 10 at every handover.
The Breakdown of Costs
At the Barinagar wholesale market in Jashore, farmers sell their produce at a base rate of Tk 55–56 per kg. However, by the time these vegetables reach Dhaka’s retail markets, several factors inflate the price:
- Logistics & Labor: Transporting 7,000 kg of vegetables costs approximately Tk 35,000, adding Tk 8 per kg for transport, labor, and packaging.
- Market Levies: Wholesalers face high market fees (khajna) and additional costs for weighing and brokerage.
- The Middlemen Chain: From the primary buyer (Bepari) to the warehouse (Aratdar), then to the farias (small brokers), followed by wholesalers, and finally the retail shopkeepers.
- Hidden Costs: Waste from damaged perishables, shop rent, and labor costs contribute significantly to the final retail price.
Barriers on the Road
The journey is also marred by systemic issues. While traveling from Jashore to Dhaka’s Jatrabari, transport drivers encountered:
- Extortion: Illegal toll collection by individuals claiming to represent local municipalities.
- Official Tolls: Significant expenses at the Madhumati Bridge, Padma Bridge, and Mawa Expressway.
- High Input Costs: Farmers in Jashore, such as Ariful Islam, reported that they are forced to buy fertilizer and pesticides at prices higher than those fixed by the government, further squeezing their profit margins.
The Path to Control
Market experts and traders, including Badhan Hossain, manager of Samad Banijyalaya, suggest that the price would stabilize if the government could facilitate a more direct link between farmers and consumers, bypassing unnecessary intermediaries.
Information Source: This report is based on an original investigative piece by Prothom Alo.
