Costlier fuel, cheaper vegetables: Rajshahi farmers caught in the middle

The recent hike in fuel prices has significantly increased transportation costs, prompting traders to scale back purchases of vegetables from farmers in Rajshahi, leading to a drop in wholesale prices despite peak harvest season.

The government recently raised fuel prices, setting diesel at Tk 115 per litre from Tk 100, kerosene at Tk 130 from Tk 112, octane at Tk 140 from Tk 120, and petrol at Tk 135 from Tk 116. The new rates came into effect last Sunday.

At Nowhata haat in Paba upazila of Rajshahi, trucks were seen today being loaded with vegetables bound for Dhaka, although traders said rising fuel costs have increased transport expenses and created uncertainty.

Suzon Ali, owner of Josna Enterprise Transport, said transport costs for a round trip between Rajshahi and Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar have increased from Tk 23,000–24,000 to Tk 27,000–28,000.

“That's an additional Tk 4,000 to Tk 5,000 per truck,” he said, adding that transporting a 100kg sack of pointed gourd now costs Tk 300, up from Tk 220.

“As a result, traders are buying less, vegetable prices are falling, and farmers are bearing the losses. Everything else remains stable, but farmers are receiving lower prices,” he added.

Transport costs to Sylhet and Chattogram have also risen by around Tk 10,000 per truck.

In the wholesale market, prices of key vegetables have dropped significantly. Pointed gourd has fallen from Tk 60 per kg to Tk 45, okra from Tk 20 to Tk 12, potatoes from Tk 15 to Tk 8, onions from Tk 25 to Tk 20, and bottle gourd from Tk 20 to Tk 12.

Bulbul, a trader packing pointed gourd, said the cost of sending each sack to Dhaka has increased by Tk 60 to Tk 80.

Farmers say they are the worst affected. Ilias, a local farmer, said vegetable prices have dropped over the past two days as traders are cutting back on purchases.

“Just two to three days ago, pointed gourd was selling at Tk 60–65 per kg, but today I sold it at Tk 45. The same applies to okra,” he said.

Md Sanowar Hossain, senior agricultural marketing officer (additional charge) in Rajshahi, said higher fuel prices and increased transportation costs have pushed up overall expenses.

He added that long queues at fuel stations have created uncertainty among traders, forcing them to buy fewer vegetables from farmers, which in turn is driving down prices in the wholesale market.