NIZAMABAD: The price of rice has increased in the retail market since the last few days in Nizamabad. Traders hiked the price of the common variety from Rs 44 to Rs 50 per kg with millers, in turn, having done so as there has been a decline in the paddy yield. The hike in rice prices during the slack season is benefiting traders, but not customers.
To cater to the needs of the people, separate rice depots were set up in different colonies in the district while provision stores and supermarkets made rice available. Major rice mill owners set up exclusive outlets in Kanteshwar, Vinayaknagar, Bodhan Road and other locations. People are buying rice in both retail and wholesale markets.
Ramesh, a salesman in a supermarket at Kanteshwar, said that fluctuations in rice prices were common. “In the first week of July, we sold 1 kg of the common variety of rice for Rs 44.40: this has now gone to Rs 49.80,” he said. Usually, rice prices stabilise during the paddy yield period, he added. Meanwhile, rice outlets in the co-operative sector in the city shut shop as they had no stock of rice and will reopen when new consignments arrive. A few varieties from different stocks are available. A few millers even suspended production of rice due to non-availability of paddy and increase in the maintenance charges.
A rice miller, who did not wish to be named, said that his rice mill stopped the production of rice recently. “We have been in milling since decades, but never faced a crisis in rice milling,” he said. Adverse climatic conditions had affected paddy yield and the cost of production had also increased, he said. The only way for them to get some relief was through a hike in rice prices, he added.
