|
May
11, 2000
Cox’s
Bazar, May 10 (UNB) – Myanmar rice have been causing glut in the
local markets pushing down the prices abnormally, farmers of the
district alleged here.
The
local markets of Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban and Chittagong have been
flooded with smuggled rice disheartening the local growers, they said.
Rice
price has gone down to Tk 9-10 per kg, dashing the hope of the
rice-growers, who got a bumper production this season.
Rice
is much cheaper at Myanmar because of high volume and low cost of
production.
Taking
the advantage of this situation, a section of dishonest traders are
bringing rice from Myanmar through unauthorized channels and making
profit to the deprivation of the rice growers.
The
officials of Revenue Department said that the bulk of paddy and rice
come here illegally which deprives government also substantial
revenue.
Farmers
of Ukhia and Teknaf said they were now forced to sell their produce at
a price, which is at least Tk 10 less than the production cost.
Local
elite think that if the smuggling from Myanmar is halted, price of
paddy and rice here would stabilize benefiting the local growers.
|
