Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar had said the rice prices would decline gradually when the harvesting would begin in full swing. We the general people also had thought we would be able to buy the rice at reasonable prices with the new Aman rice coming to the market. But, the fact is that the prices of all varieties of rice have increased in the country’s wholesale and retail markets amid this peak time of Aman paddy harvesting.
Repeated floods and unfavourable weather have triggered a drop in yield of Aman rice, the second-biggest crop in Bangladesh after Boro. In the retail markets, the staple is being sold at rates between Tk 50 to Tk 86 per kg in the last one week, according to media reports.
This upward trend of rice prices has created a suffocating condition for the low-income group people, who are already plagued by price hikes of daily essentials.
It is very unfortunate that when the prices of rice should not rise during this full harvesting season, the staple food prices continued showing an upward trend, hurting the low income groups the most.
The harvesting of Aman rice is going on in full swing across the country. Aman cultivators are now busy harvesting the paddy in a festive mood.
The interim government assured people of not allowing the price of rice to soar. But, what is happening in the market is just the opposite as the price of rice is increasing beyond control despite peak season and sufficient stock of the food grain.
It is very usual that the rice prices start dropping soon with the arrival of newly harvested Aman paddy in the market, bringing comfort to the people.
upward trend of rice prices has
created a suffocating condition
for the
low-income group people
But this time the scenario is completely opposite as the price of every variety of rice has gone up. A section of millers, hoarders, rice traders and rich farmers are now busy stockpiling paddy to sell it after some days at higher prices.
This organised unholy nexus believe the price of paddy will increase and their profit will also rise in the days to come. Supply is short and the price keeps soaring.
The government must form several special monitoring committees to control prices of rice in the market. The monitoring committees will check price hike of food grains, assist low income groups, keep market price stable and ensure fair price of food grains to farmers.
Authorities must take the initiative to check the rising prices of the staple food in the market through illegal means. Concerned ministries will have to issue necessary directives to the deputy commissioners and concerned officials.
They will also have to carry out inspecting the wholesale markets to monitor prices of rice and submit reports in this regard. Authorities must also take stern legal actions if anybody tries to make rice market unstable.
The government will also have to open a control room and special monitoring team which will be functioning to keep price of rice at tolerable level. The millers, hoarders, rice traders and rich farmers should be honest and not to think about their own interest only as they have to think about the interest of the consumers too.
As the prices of almost all daily essentials including vegetables, flour, edible oil, lentils, onion, garlic, soap and toothpaste have increased abnormally, fresh hike in the staple food grain will fuel the common people’s financial hardships and make the rice market volatile as well.
The government will procure a total of 10 lakh metric tonnes (MTs) of food grains from the marginal farmers across the country during this Aman season. Under the programme, 3.5 lakh MTs paddy, 5.5 lakh MTs boiled rice and the rest one lakh MTs Atap rice will be procured.
It should run strict monitoring against illegal paddy hoarders immediately. The illegal hoarders must be brought under strict surveillance in order to make the government’s Aman paddy and boiled rice procurement trouble-free.
