Sylhet Bureau :
There has been a rise in the price of rice by Tk 200 to Tk 300 per maund in the Sylhet markets for the last two weeks but in case of paddy it is only Tk 50 for unknown reasons.
The poor farmers are the sufferers while the traders are the beneficiaries in the price hike, market sources informed. Same thing happened months ago.
Coarse variety paddy is selling at Tk 600 to Tk 650 per maund in the rural markets of Sunamganj, Habiganj and in Moulvibazar while the finer quality at Tk 700 to Tk 800. The coarse varieties of rice are being sold at Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200 per maund while the finer varieties of rice at Tk 1500 to Tk 1700.
Officials of farmers association said paddy price is up by Tk 50 to Tk 100 whereas it is Tk 200 to Tk 300 in case of rice.
Well-to-do farmer Ataur Rahman of Derai upazila in Sunamganj said 50 kg rice is found from two maunds of paddy but it is not possible to buy a maund of rice by selling two maunds of paddy.
He said the fine variety rice was being sold at Tk 750 to Tk 800 while the coarse variety at Tk 550 to Tk 600 whereas the fine rice was at Tk 1,550 to Tk 1,600 per maund yesterday. The farmers or the consumers have no control on the markets, but the traders control it anyway, he added.
However, owner of an auto rice mill in Sunamganj claimed the millers are not benefited with the price hike as they did not earn profit by buying paddy for husking to marketing those just weeks ago. Now we are buying paddy for Tk 600 and selling rice at Tk 1,100 per maund while fine variety paddy at Tk 700 and selling rice at Tk 1,400, he said, adding, husking one maund of paddy yields 23 kg rice.
The miller on the other hand said normally some big traders buy paddy from the markets and sell those to the millers. Again it comes to the wholesalers for marketing through small traders. This is why the profit goes to several stages triggering rise in the rice or paddy prices.
Sunamganj district president of Krishak Sangram Samity Khairul Bashar said the rice market is mainly controlled by mill owners. Still, the rice price is high for no justified reason, he said.
When paddy was Tk 550, the rice was selling at up by Tk 200, which is still on. Two maunds of rice have been achieved from three maunds of paddy, he said, adding, one can buy three maunds of paddy at Tk 2,100 but two maunds of rice costs Tk 2,800.
Farmers are not getting the high price while the consumers are also paying high as the middlemen are taking the undue benefit, he elaborated.
Sunamganj district president of Krishak Sangram Samity Khairul Bashar said the rice market is mainly controlled by mill owners. Still, the rice price is high for no justified reason, he said.
There has been a rise in the price of rice by Tk 200 to Tk 300 per maund in the Sylhet markets for the last two weeks but in case of paddy it is only Tk 50 for unknown reasons.
The poor farmers are the sufferers while the traders are the beneficiaries in the price hike, market sources informed. Same thing happened months ago.
Coarse variety paddy is selling at Tk 600 to Tk 650 per maund in the rural markets of Sunamganj, Habiganj and in Moulvibazar while the finer quality at Tk 700 to Tk 800. The coarse varieties of rice are being sold at Tk 1,100 to Tk 1,200 per maund while the finer varieties of rice at Tk 1500 to Tk 1700.
Officials of farmers association said paddy price is up by Tk 50 to Tk 100 whereas it is Tk 200 to Tk 300 in case of rice.
Well-to-do farmer Ataur Rahman of Derai upazila in Sunamganj said 50 kg rice is found from two maunds of paddy but it is not possible to buy a maund of rice by selling two maunds of paddy.
He said the fine variety rice was being sold at Tk 750 to Tk 800 while the coarse variety at Tk 550 to Tk 600 whereas the fine rice was at Tk 1,550 to Tk 1,600 per maund yesterday. The farmers or the consumers have no control on the markets, but the traders control it anyway, he added.
However, owner of an auto rice mill in Sunamganj claimed the millers are not benefited with the price hike as they did not earn profit by buying paddy for husking to marketing those just weeks ago. Now we are buying paddy for Tk 600 and selling rice at Tk 1,100 per maund while fine variety paddy at Tk 700 and selling rice at Tk 1,400, he said, adding, husking one maund of paddy yields 23 kg rice.
The miller on the other hand said normally some big traders buy paddy from the markets and sell those to the millers. Again it comes to the wholesalers for marketing through small traders. This is why the profit goes to several stages triggering rise in the rice or paddy prices.
Sunamganj district president of Krishak Sangram Samity Khairul Bashar said the rice market is mainly controlled by mill owners. Still, the rice price is high for no justified reason, he said.
When paddy was Tk 550, the rice was selling at up by Tk 200, which is still on. Two maunds of rice have been achieved from three maunds of paddy, he said, adding, one can buy three maunds of paddy at Tk 2,100 but two maunds of rice costs Tk 2,800.
Farmers are not getting the high price while the consumers are also paying high as the middlemen are taking the undue benefit, he elaborated.
Sunamganj district president of Krishak Sangram Samity Khairul Bashar said the rice market is mainly controlled by mill owners. Still, the rice price is high for no justified reason, he said.
When paddy was Tk 550, the rice was selling at up by Tk 200, which is still on. Two maunds of rice come from three maunds of paddy, he said.
One can buy three maunds of paddy at Tk 2,100 but two maunds of rice costs Tk 2,800.
Farmers are not getting the high price while the consumers are also paying high as the middlemen are taking the undue benefit, he elaborated.
A source, however, said the grain market would be stable in days with the harvest of Aman crops.
