Prices of coarse rice mark rise in city markets

Yasir Wardad | Published: August 15, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Prices of coarse rice varieties have increased in the city kitchen markets which traders attributed to the shortage of a few paddy varieties.
Meanwhile, experts emphasized on strict monitoring of rice market as the country had a bumper crop output in the just ended financial year.
Prices of course rice varieties like Shwarna, Brridhan-29 and a few hybrid varieties increased by 3 to 6 per cent in last seven days, retailers said.
Swarna varieties were sold at Tk 36-37 per kg, Brridhan-29 at Tk37-38, hybrid varieties at Tk 34-35 per kg on Thursday, a rise of Tk1-2 in last seven days.
"Price of a 50 -kg sack of Swarna variety was Tk1750-1760 on Thursday which was Tk1710- 1715 a few days back at Badamtoli wholesale market," Md Alamin, a retailer at Banalata Kicthen Market in New Market area said.
He said: "Even prices of hybrid rice also increased by Tk0.5-1.0 per kg".
"The prices of finer varieties were stable. Different qualities of Miniket rice were sold at Tk46-52 per kg---stable for last one and a half months", Md Alamin said.
"But, traders told us that the prices of finer varieties will also increase in next few days," he said.
Md Mutalib Hossain Talukder, proprietor of MHT Rice Mill in Naogaon Sadar upazila, told the FE that paddy prices were higher in Boro harvesting season.
"Swarna variety mainly grows in Aman season, so, the supply of the paddy is declining and the price is increasing," he said.
Swarna variety paddy was sold at Tk850-860 per maund (40 kg)--a Tk 60-80 increase in last fifteen days.
"The price of Swarna variety increased by Tk 0.2 to Tk 0.25 per kg recently at mill gates," he added.
Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Owners' Association (BAMHMOA) joint convener Shohidur Rahman Patwary (Mohon) also echoed that supply of paddy has come down significantly which is the key reason behind the price hike.
He also pointed out that unnecessary import of rice has forced many mills to stop their operation.
"Private importers are now dominating the market. Import should be stopped for the betterment of the rice sector and also for the Boro farmers," he said.
An official at the state- run Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) told the FE that the country had got a bumper production from the three cropping seasons.
Total production has surpassed nearly 34.0 million tonnes in FY'14, he said.
"Besides robust local production, a big chunk of rice has been imported. So, the government monitoring should be increased to control any manipulation," he said.
Chairman of Subaltern Communication Research Centre (SCRS), Delowar Jahan said the increase will further add to the sufferings of the limited-income group of people.
He said the government's OMS (Open Market Sale) programme should be expanded further to safeguard the common people.
"Importers and their allied traders should come under strict monitoring," he added.
The country's rice production was 33.77 million tonnes in FY'13.
Total demand for rice is nearly 31.0 million tonnes, according to the Directorate General of Food (DGoF).