SIRAJGANJ, May 13: Puffed rice makers in the district are happy as they are making a good profit this season.
A large number of grassroots people in the district are leading their lives by making the popular snack.
According to the district Small and Cottage Industry sources, more than 300 families of the district are engaged in producing tasty puffed rice.
A good number of people have attained financial solvency by making the item, official sources said, adding, locally-produced puffed is sent to different districts for high demand.
Locals said around 120 maunds of muri are sold at the local markets daily. Traders from Bogura, Naogaon, Rajshahi, Gaibandha and Kushtia visit the district to purchase the food item.
Many puffed rice makers said they cannot expand their business for shortage of capital.
They said if the government arranges short-term loan facility for them, they will be benefitted most.
Hasna Begum of Kazipur upazila said all of her family members help her producing puffed rice.
"It is the only source of our living", she added.
Meanwhile, BSS adds: In Manikganj, people in a village of the district are making chemical free puffed rice (muri) throughout the year.
Though it has demand throughout the year, during Ramadan its demand increases sharply.
Consumers depend on the puffed rice which is available in the markets.
But in most of the cases puffed rice is adulterated with unhealthy and poisonous chemical while brightening its colour to attract consumers.
The village women of Nabagram, Dhalai, Uvajani and Sarupai under Nabagram union of Manikganj Sadar upazila and Purbopara village under Daulatpur upazila have been making puffed rice for generations.
Throughout the year, the people of those villages, specially the women, are busy with making puffed rice. But during the Ramadan their business reaches its peak.
Anwar Hossain, 38, of village Dhalai said his family depends on puffed rice trading. They collect special paddy named 'Bhushibhanga' from Barishal district.
The colour of the puffed rice is light brown. Anwar said, "We do not use any chemical. So it has a huge demand in markets."
Like Anwar, more than 14 families make chemical-free puffed rice in their village. A lot of wholesale dealers buy their item from their houses.
Sometimes they also sell their products directly in the markets and earn more profit.
They sell per kg of puffed to wholesale dealers at Tk 100 to Tk 110. But retail price is between Tk 130 to Tk 140.
By trading the item, Anwar built a tin-shed house and sanitary latrine. He also bought two bighas of land. He is now self-reliant. Like Anwar, some families are also living their life trading puffed rice.
Some grassroots puffed rice makers said they were running their business taking loan from banks.
They also claimed some makers in remote areas do not get proper price of their products from the middle man.
Salma Khatun, a middle aged woman of Sarupai village said, "I have started making muri from the very beginning of my marriage before 35 years ago. With the help of my husband and other members we make three to four mounds of fresh hand frying muri everyday". "During the month of holy Ramadan, we have to work more to meet the demand of market, she added.
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