Nobody monitoring the winter vegetables market from City Corporation. So, it have hit the country`s city-based kitchen markets a month back as like routinely observed every year. However, the season`s early variety of vegetables yet continues to be sold at formidably higher prices, especially tomatoes, broccoli and cauliflowers. Upon increase in their supply, the prices of all vegetables stop their upward turn and slide down to a normal level. By that time, winter begins full-scale. This year, too, the vegetable markets appear too slow becoming stable, enabling fixed-income groups to purchase their favorite items.  But the current year stands out with its seemingly elusive onions -- part vegetable, part spice. With the product`s local variety selling for Tk 120- Tk 135 a kg, and the imported variety for Tk 110-Tk 120  a kg, the buyers find themselves in a quandary.

Barring the largely unexpected onion hiccup, the urban kitchen markets of winter vegetables in the country have been witnessing scenarios nearly similar to those in the previous years. This year`s winter vegetable market in the country becomes distinctive in a few other respects.

Unlike in the past seasons, when vast rural areas in the country are found engaged in vegetable harvests, many vegetable-growing areas remain uncultivated this year. It is chiefly the tracts which were not affected by the last flood which have ventured into vegetable cultivation. Moreover, many areas remain under flood water for weeks in a row could not grow even a single variety of vegetables.

The areas include parts of south-western, northern and north-eastern regions of the country. This situation is feared to allow the flood-free and vegetable-producing rural areas to enjoy monopoly of sorts.

As per numerable media reports, farmers are awaiting a bumper production of various types of vegetables by the time full winter sets in. It is during this waiting period, the government`s authorities concerned must keep a watchful eye on traders and sellers syndicates - so to deter the chance of maneuvering sales, supply and price of all varieties of winter vegetables. 

They look forward to earning hefty profits from their sales. But the cautious sections of them have already started becoming wary of the market-related machinations resorted to by middlemen. In spite of a bumper winter vegetable production, the growers fear they might be deprived of their due profits. The agricultural authorities ought not to turn a blind eye to this great disincentive haunting farmers.

On the other hand, the farmers` practice of growing vegetables and different types of spinach should also be kept under monitoring network. The allegations of excessive use of insecticides, chemical fertilizers, preservatives etc in the farming stage have long been rife. It also warrants deterrents for the sake of public health.