Narinjara News
Maungdaw,
Price hike on rice after mills closed down in Arakan
The price of rice has gone up
recently in Arakan, due to the authorities placing a
temporary ban on the milling of rice around Arakan
state, said a farmer.
The ban and price-hike has
most severely affected the poorer people throughout the state, particularly day
laborers and those living along the border.
According to a local rice
mill owner from Kyauk Taw, the local authority from
the agricultural department has not allowed rice grinding by any rice mills in Arakan state since April, in order to maintain government
control of rice production.
Market sources said, in Akyab, the capital Arakan state,
the price of Pawsan Mwe brand rice (high standard) has increased from 7000 kyat
to 12000 kyat per bag (50 kg) while the price for normal rice has increased
from 5000 kyat to 8,000 kyat per bag (50 kg) within a month.
In the Maungdaw market, close to
According to a rice trader
from Maung daw, the present retail prices of rice in
the Maung Daw market are: 16,000 kyat per bag
(50 kg) for Pawsab Mwe
brand, 15,000 kyat per bag for the Ae mahta brand, Nga Sein rice (lower standard) is 10,000 kyat per bag and
sticky rice is 15,000 per bag.
People from Maungdaw said that the prices may go up further in the
rainy season if remedial measures are not taken by authority immediately.
In Maungdaw,
There is not only an increase in the cost of rice but also the cost of other
essential commodities. In Maungdaw market the current
illegal exchange rate is 1 USD to 990 Burmese kyats and 100 Taka to 1540
Burmese kyat. #
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