The production of fine-grain Miniket rice has dropped by 80% over the past month due to a shortage of the paddy required for its production.
An investigation has identified a supply shortage as the main factor behind the rising prices of Miniket rice in markets across the country, including Dhaka.
Market sources report that over the past two weeks, the price of Miniket rice has surged from Tk72-74 per kg to Tk84-86 per kg.
Mill owners state that the specific varieties of paddy needed to produce Miniket rice are currently scarce, with no reserves left in their warehouses. As a result, retail prices continue to climb.
At Kushtia mill gates, Miniket rice is being sold at Tk80-81 per kg, while in retail markets, the price has risen to Tk85-86 per kg.
Zainal Abedin Pradhan, general secretary of the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Mill Owners Association, stated that the paddy required to produce Miniket rice is not available in the market.
“While some millers are sourcing paddy from distant regions, the cost is around Tk2,250 per maund, which is contributing to the rising rice prices,” he said.
In Khajanagar, there are 65 auto rice mills, but currently, only 15-20 are producing Miniket rice.
Under normal conditions, 150-200 truckloads of Miniket rice are supplied daily to markets across the country, including Dhaka. However, this number has now dropped to just 10-15 truckloads per day.
Kushtia Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Partha Pratim Shil inspected Khajanagar last Monday to assess any excessive stockpiling of paddy and rice.
Mill owners informed him that the paddy shortage is severely affecting Miniket rice production.
Some mill owners clarified that there is no specific variety of paddy called ‘Miniket.’
The rice sold under this name is polished from coarse-grain paddy varieties such as BRRI Dhan-28, BRRI Dhan-29, BRRI Hybrid Dhan, and Kajol Lata.
They also mentioned that the supply of these paddy varieties is currently low, but with the Boro harvest expected to begin at the end of April, availability will improve, which should lead to a reduction in Miniket rice prices.
Arshad Ali, owner of Dada Rice Mill, warned that if the current trend continues, Miniket rice prices could rise by another Tk15-17 per kg, reaching up to Tk90 per kg.
He added that paddy prices have already increased by Tk300 per maund.
He mentioned that under normal circumstances, his mill produces 46 tonnes of rice daily, but due to the paddy shortage, production has now dropped to just 14-15 tonnes per day.
Kushtia Upazila Food Controller Abdul Khaleq explained that such shortages are common towards the end of the Aman season, and it will be another month before Boro paddy becomes available in the market.
Kushtia District Food Controller Al Waziur Rahman confirmed that Miniket rice was selling at Tk77 per kg on 1 March, but by Tuesday, the price had risen to Tk84 per kg at mill gates.
Kushtia Deputy Commissioner Taufiqur Rahman noted that rice prices usually remain stable during Ramadan, making this year's price surge particularly unusual.
However, several teams are closely monitoring the reasons behind this sudden price increase, he added.
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
