Rice prices rise again in Aman season

The prices of rice did not go down in the kitchen markets of the capital although new varieties of rice during the Aman season have started arriving in the market.

The traders said they were hoping that the prices would come down after the Aman varieties of rice reach the market, but it did not happen. On the contrary, rice prices increased further in the last week.

The prices of some varieties of rice, including najirshail and miniket, have increased by Tk 1-2 per kg in the last week.

According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), prices of all kinds of rice were 9 per cent higher on Thursday, compared to last year.

The fine rice known as miniket was sold at Tk 65-75 per kg on Thursday in the kitchen markets of the capital which was Tk 65-73 a week ago while nazirshail was sold at Tk 73-80 per kg, a week ago it was Tk 72-79 per kg. The coarse varieties, including paizam, BR28, swarna, were sold at Tk 51-54 per kg on Thursday which was Tk 1 less only a week ago.

According to TCB data, fine rice was sold at Tk 56-68 per kg and coarse rice at Tk 45-55 per kg on this day last year.

Visiting a number of rice markets in the capital, including Rampura and Maniknagar areas, on Thursday, this correspondent saw the traders selling some new types of rice including paijam and guti-swarna.

The traders said new season rice has started coming in small quantities this week. But the price has not decreased. The supply of new rice will increase in the next week or two; however, it is not yet clear whether the price will decrease or not.

Many traders alleged that the mill owners have increased the prices of rice on the pretext of increased prices of paddy. The prices of rice dropped a few days ago after market regulators conducted joint drives at the rice mills, but now it has increased again due to the lack of monitoring.

Md Mohsin, the proprietor of Cumilla Rice Agency at Rampura kitchen market, told The Business Post, “The prices of some rice have increased by Tk 20-50 per sack (50kg) in the last week. New rice is coming into the market but there is no impact on the price.”

Rice, paddy collection campaign starts

The government’s paddy and rice collection campaign for Aman season started on Thursday. Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar formally inaugurated the paddy and rice procurement campaign virtually through an event at Pulhat LSD warehouse in Dinajpur city.

The government will procure three lakh tonnes of paddy and five lakh tonnes of rice this Aman season from farmers through the app at Tk 28 per kg and at Tk 42 per kg respectively.

Last year, the government purchased Aman season paddy at Tk 27 per kg and rice at Tk 40 per kg.