price of rice in central and southern provinces seems to be higher

(KPL) The price of rice in central and southern provinces seems to be higher over last month, as a result of more rice collection and purchase for further sale along the common border with neighbouring countries.

The hike in the rice price is also attributed to the purchase of rice purchased as relief for southern flood victims and rice hoarding in preparation for upcoming wet season rice production.

According to early this week�s record of the Commerce services of four southern and two central provinces, the price of rice in these provincial markets last month increased by 1,000 kip per kg. This is a current concern of local people that they have to increase their expenditure.

In addition, the prices of consumer goods including white sugar, fish sauce, MSG - seasoning powder, also soar.

Mr Sikham, director of the Foodstuff Company of central Khammouane province, said that last month the price of sticky rice stood at 3,500 kip per kg and that of long grain ordinary rice was 5,000 kip, but only in a month the price surges by 1,000 kip. �The rice price hike might be resulted from the rice sale by rice farmers to neighbouring countries or by natural disaster impacts,� he claimed.

The rice price in Savannakhet province has risen to 5,000 kip per kg for sticky rice from 4,000 kip and to 7,000 kip from 5,000 kip for ordinary rice.

This is a traditional practice of local farmers who will sell their harvest from the monsoon and dry season rice crop to middlemen. They would retain only a small amount enough for consumption, according to a local farmer in central Savannakhet province.

An official in charge of the Commerce Service of Champassak province, Mr Somboun told the Lao News Agency that the price of rice on local market have also risen as in other provinces. The price of sticky rice rose to 5,000 kip from 4,000 kip per kg and that of ordinary rice to 6,000 kip from 5,000 kip.

Mr Somboun gave the same reason for the increase in rice price � rice purchase for helping flood victims in southernmost provinces. However a technical officer in foodstuff service said that some part of the country would see rice shortage this year, particularly the flood-affected areas. Since their rice fields have been badly damaged by floods. Thus it is necessary to bring rice from other province for local consumption.

Some middlemen also took advantage of the situation and stocked rice for further sale at high price, added the officer.

back

:: KPL :: Lao News Agency