Rice prices again on the rise

People are having to spend an additional Tk. 100-250 per 50-kg sack of rice as the prices of the essential foodgrain have risen for the third time in two months in the kitchen markets of the country. This is causing stress on the middle-class and low-income people

Minikate rice is being sold at Tk. 2,400 per 50kg sack in wholesale markets, up from Tk. 2,250 last week, sources in different kitchen markets told this correspondent yesterday (Tuesday).

Basmati rice is being sold at Tk. 2,700. It was selling for Tk. 2,500 per 50kg sack last week. The Lata variety is being sold at Tk. 2,050, up from Tk 1,800 last week, Chittao Ranjan Dutta, a wholesaler of the Mirpur-01 kitchen market, told this correspondent.

According to Anwar Hossain, a rice trader of the Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Najirshail and Minikate are being sold at Tk. 52-65 per kg, Paijam/Lata at Tk. 43-55 per kg and Irri/Swarna at Tk. 32-37, depending on the quality and variety. This is an increase of Tk. 2-3 per kg compared to last week. Rice mill owners said the price of paddy has increased by Tk. 100 per maund since the first week of this month, so the price of rice has risen.

Consumers fear that the market may become more unstable if the rice price hike is not controlled now.

According to various sources, the millers have increased prices through syndication.   The Aman season is just over, the sources said, adding that the country has sufficient paddy and rice reserves.  

So, there is no reason to raise prices of rice now as Boro

paddy will be harvested soon, they noted. The government has decided to procure paddy directly to ensure fair prices for the farmers' produce, Sarwar Mahmud, director general of the Directorate General of Food, told The Independent yesterday.

“The government is procuring paddy from farmers now. At the same time, millers are also purchasing paddy from the markets. As a result, the millers have increased prices a little bit,” he said in reply to a query.

There is nothing to be worried about regarding the price hike, as the government has already introduced open market sale (OMS), Mahmud said, adding that very few people are purchasing rice from OMS trucks.

He also said the government will provide rice to 50 lakh poor people at Tk. 10 per kg under the food-friendly programme during Ramadan.

According to Mahmud, the country’s foodgrain stock is good enough.  A total of 18,16,700 tonnes of foodgrain is now in government godowns, he said. The break-up is—rice 13.34 lakh tonnes, wheat 3.62 lakh tonnes, and paddy 1.81 lakh tonnes, he added.

 

 

Rice prices again on the rise

People are having to spend an additional Tk. 100-250 per 50-kg sack of rice as the prices of the essential foodgrain have risen for the third time in two months in the kitchen markets of the country. This is causing stress on the middle-class and low-income people Minikate rice is being sold at Tk. 2,400 per 50kg sack in wholesale markets, up from Tk. 2,250 last week, sources in different kitchen markets told this correspondent yesterday (Tuesday). Basmati rice is being sold at Tk. 2,700. It was selling for Tk. 2,500 per 50kg sack last week. The Lata variety is being sold at Tk. 2,050, up from Tk 1,800 last week, Chittao Ranjan Dutta, a wholesaler of the Mirpur-01 kitchen market, told this correspondent. According to Anwar Hossain, a rice trader of the Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Najirshail and Minikate are being sold at Tk. 52-65 per kg, Paijam/Lata at Tk. 43-55 per kg and Irri/Swarna at Tk. 32-37, depending on the quality and variety. This is an increase of Tk. 2-3 per kg compared to last week. Rice mill owners said the price of paddy has increased by Tk. 100 per maund since the first week of this month, so the price of rice has risen. Consumers fear that the market may become more unstable if the rice price hike is not controlled now. According to various sources, the millers have increased prices through syndication. The Aman season is just over, the sources said, adding that the country has sufficient paddy and rice reserves. So, there is no reason to raise prices of rice now as Boro paddy will be harvested soon, they noted. The government has decided to procure paddy directly to ensure fair prices for the farmers produce, Sarwar Mahmud, director general of the Directorate General of Food, told The Independent yesterday. The government is procuring paddy from farmers now. At the same time, millers are also purchasing paddy from the markets. As a result, the millers have increased prices a little bit, he said in reply to a query. There is nothing to be worried about regarding the price hike, as the government has already introduced open market sale (OMS), Mahmud said, adding that very few people are purchasing rice from OMS trucks. He also said the government will provide rice to 50 lakh poor people at Tk. 10 per kg under the food-friendly programme during Ramadan. According to Mahmud, the countrys foodgrain stock is good enough. A total of 18,16,700 tonnes of foodgrain is now in government godowns, he said. The break-up isrice 13.34 lakh tonnes, wheat 3.62 lakh tonnes, and paddy 1.81 lakh tonnes, he added.