Nagaon Rice Prices Rise 1-3 Taka Per Kilogram Amidst Peak Season
Photo Collected
Nawagong, a major rice-producing district in Bangladesh, is experiencing a surge in rice prices, with costs increasing by one to three taka per kilogram. At the mill gate, Katariভোগ rice is selling for 73 to 75 taka, Jirashail for 70 to 71 taka, and Swarna variety for 48 to 49 taka. The rise in wholesale prices has directly impacted local retail markets.
Traders attribute the price hike to a reduced supply of new rice from the current Boro season and an increase in paddy prices at local markets. Consumers, however, are pointing to syndicate manipulation as the reason behind the inflated prices during the peak harvest season. They are calling for raids on rice mills to curb hoarding and for increased monitoring of the market.
Despite Nawagong’s consistent reputation for robust rice production and the ongoing Boro harvest, where most paddy has already reached farmers’ homes and supply appears adequate, wholesale and retail prices have escalated by one to three taka per kilogram within the past week.
Investigations at several wholesale rice warehouses in the Alupotti area, the district’s largest rice hub, revealed that the price per 50-kilogram sack of rice has increased by 50 to 150 taka at mill gates over the last week. Jirashail rice, which cost between 3,300 and 3,400 taka per sack a week ago, now ranges from 3,500 to 3,550 taka. Katariভোগ rice has risen from 3,600 taka to 3,650-3,700 taka.
Swarna variety rice, considered a coarse grain and produced during the Aman season, is now selling for 2,400 to 2,450 taka per sack, up from 2,250 to 2,300 taka a week prior. Other varieties like BR-28, Shuvlata, Parija, and Moazzem have also seen price increases of up to 100 taka per sack. Retail prices for BR-28, Parija, Shuvlata, and Moazzem now range from 55 to 58 taka per kilogram, while fine rice like Katariভোগ is priced at 76-77 taka and Jirashail at 71-72 taka.
Customers are feeling the pinch. Arrman Hossain, who recently purchased a sack of Katariভোগ rice for 3,850 taka, noted it was 200 taka more than two months ago. He expressed concern over increased household pressure due to rising costs of essential goods. Another consumer, Manik, questioned the logic of price increases during the peak season and urged authorities to investigate potential hoarding.
Forhad Hossain Chokdar, general secretary of the Nawagong District Rice Mill Owners Group, explained that crop damage in various regions due to natural disasters has contributed to the situation. While paddy prices were initially lower, they have since increased by 100 to 200 taka per maund in the past week to two, benefiting farmers. He also cited the commencement of government rice and paddy procurement as a factor in the one to three taka per kilogram increase in wholesale rice prices.
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