New hike in rice prices

Rice prices marked a fresh rise both at mill gates and retail following an increase in paddy prices, triggering sufferings for the fixed-income group of people.

Millers and traders said prices are unlikely to decline before the Aman harvest.

Prices of different varieties of rice have increased by Tk1.00-Tk2.0 per kg at mill gates over the last two weeks in Dinajpur, Rangpur, Kushtia, Joypurhat and Naogaon 'mokam' (local agricultural market), sources said.

Coarse rice such as Swarna (Guti) was selling at Tk 32.25-32.75 per kg while its price was Tk31.0--31.50 two week back at the mill gates.

On the other hand, the prices of Brridhan-28, the most popular rice in the country, went up by Tk1.0-Tk1.5 per kg and were sold at Tk 36.50-37.5 per kg at mill gates in the districts.

Miniket and Paijam, two finer varieties, were sold at Tk 44-48 and Tk 42-43 per kg respectively at mill gates, an increase by Tk 1.00-2.00 in last seven days.

However, the prices at mill gates have started to affect those of the cities. Prices of finer varieties have increased by Tk 2 to Tk 3 per kg, retailers said.

"The Miniket rice ranged between Tk 46 and Tk 54 per kg, up by Tk 2.00-3.00 at the retail level in a week," Md Humayun, a retailer at Chapra Mashjid Bazar under Azimpur area,  in the city said.

He said prices of coarse varieties like Swarna, Brridhan-29, hybrid increased two weeks back and now prices of finer verities start rising.

Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Owners' Association (BAMHMOA) joint convener Shohidur Rahman Patwary (Mohon) told the FE that the price might not come down before start of Aman harvest.

He said supply of paddy has reduced significantly, which is the key reason behind the hike.

He also pointed out that unnecessary import of rice has forced many mills to close their operation.

"Private importers are now dominating the market. Import should be stopped for the betterment of the rice sector and also for the farmers," he said.

Md Mutalib Hossain Talukder, proprietor of MHT Rice Mill in Naogaon Sadar upazila, told the FE that paddy prices have increased significantly in a month.

Brridhan-28 paddy prices increased to Tk 950-1000 per maund which was Tk 880-900 a month back.

Delowar Jahan, Chairman of non-government Subaltern Communication Research Centre (SCRC), told the FE that the increase will further add extra burden to the limited-income group of people.

He said nearly 1.0 million people in 26 districts have seriously been affected by flood, who were not getting sufficient help from the government.

The rising price of rice will bring more sufferings for them, he said.

He said food distribution through the government's safety-net programmes should be expanded hugely to safeguard the common people.   

The country's rice production was 33.77 million tonnes in fiscal year (FY) 2013. Total demand for rice is nearly 31.0 million tonnes, according to the Directorate General of Food (DGoF).