Rice price shows downward trend after government drives

Swarnomoyee Mostafa Oishy

After an upward trend, the prices of various varieties rice have started reducing a little bit that fetches peace to the mind of low and middle class people.

The rice price shows downward trend after several initiatives of the government including conducting drives in different markets, sources said.

According to the sources, the price of coarse rice decreased a little bit last week, but this week the prices of all sorts of rice have started decreasing. At the retail level, the price per Kg of thin rice (miniket and Nazir) has decreased by five percent per Kg. And in the last two weeks, the price of coarse rice (Swarna, China and IRRI) has fallen by Tk 11 per Kg. In this regard, Maniknagar area rice trader Mubarak Uddin said that last two weeks ago, the price of coarse rice rose to Tk 58 per Kg, that rice is now being sold at Tk 47 per Kg.

According to data from the government’s marketing agency TCB, the price of coarse rice per Kg fell by 8 percent last week.

Rice traders said that, under the government’s Food Friendly Program Open Market Sale (OMS), the sale of rice at the rate of Tk 30 per Kg in the open market has had an impact on the coarse rice market since September 1. In a span of two weeks, the price of coarse rice has fallen by Tk 11 per Kg. Coarse rice (Swarna, China and IRRI) which was sold at Tk 58 per Kg a week ago was sold at Tk 52 per Kg last week. This week, it is being sold at a price of Tk 47 per Kg with a further reduction of Tk 5 per Kg.

According to TCB data, last week rice (thin) was sold at Tk 75 per Kg, this week the same rice is being sold at Tk 70 per Kg. Similarly, medium type like Lata and Paijam rice is being sold at a price of Tk 62 per Kg reducing by Tk 2. Last week, the price of this rice was Tk 64 per Kg. And rice priced at Tk 54 per Kg is being sold at Tk 50 per Kg this week.

Meanwhile, the price of open flour and flour has decreased. Open flour which was sold at Tk 50 per Kg last week is now being sold at Tk 48 per Kg. Besides, open flour which was sold at Tk 62 per Kg last week is being sold at Tk 60 per Kg this week and open flour at Tk 60 per Kg is being sold at Tk 58 per Kg this week. Apart from this, packet flour is being sold at the rate of Tk 70 per Kg. Meanwhile, like coarse rice, the price of lentils has been falling for the past two weeks. Pulses priced at Tk 130 per Kg are being sold at Tk 125.

Besides, lentils which are available at the rate of Tk 100 per Kg, were priced at Tk 105 last week. However, pulses (small grains) priced at Tk 150 per Kg are being sold at Tk 145. Mugdal (a variety of pulse) is being sold in the market at Tk 120. Imported onions are on the list of price cuts. Onion which was sold at Tk 45 per Kg last week is being sold at Tk 40 per Kg this week.

But, it is painful that, one liter and five liter bottled Soybean oil are on the list of price hikes. A liter of bottled Soybean has increased to Tk 194. Last week, this Soybean was sold at Tk 192 a liter. Two liter bottled Soybeans are being sold at Tk 385. Meanwhile, the price of eggs has increased again in the markets of the capital within a week. The price of eggs per dozen has increased by Tk 10.

During a spot visit to different markets including Karwan Baza’ar in the capital yesterday, the Daily Industry reporter found that, most of the traders were selling a dozen of eggs for Tk 130. A dozen eggs were Tk 120 a week ago.

According to TCB data, last week the price of a Hali (four pieces) farm chicken egg was Tk 40. This week, a Hali of the egg is being sold at Tk 50 again. Egg traders said, the price of wholesale eggs has increased for the last two to three days. Because of this, the price of eggs has increased. Broiler chickens are also on the price hike list.

According to TCB data, the price of broiler chicken has increased by Tk 10 per Kg compared to last week and is being sold at Tk 160.

Besides broiler chicken, Pakistani golden chicken is being sold at Tk 280 to Tk 300 per Kg. The price of Pakistani golden chicken jumped to Tk 320 per Kg just after increasing the price of fuel oil.

A few days ago, the abnormal growth of green chilli is now Tk 40 per Kg. However, many people are selling one Poa (250 grams) of green chilli for Tk 15. Meanwhile, beans are being sold at the highest price in the market as before. Beans which were sold at Tk 150 to Tk 160 last week are now Tk 120 to Tk 140 per Kg. While the prices of beans fell slightly, the prices of ripened tomatoes, carrots and turnips remained unchanged.

A Kg of ripened tomatoes is being sold between Tk 100 and Tk 130. Carrots are being sold at Tk 120 to Tk 130 per Kg. Barbati is being sold  for Tk 70 to Tk 80 per Kg. Besides these expensive vegetables, Brinjal is being sold at Tk 50 to Tk 70 per Kg, Kankarol at Tk 50 to Tk 70 per Kg, green Papaya at Tk 20 to Tk 25 per Kg and Potal at Tk 40 to Tk 50 per Kg. Kachur lati, Jhinge and Chichingiya are being sold for Tk 40 to Tk 50 per Kg. A Kg of bitter gourd is being sold between Tk 60 and Tk 80. On the other hand, the prices of various species of fishes have remained high at different markets in the capital.