Price of local rice skyrockets to Rs 55 per Kg
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 26 2024: The price of Meitei cheng--local rice has reached Rs 55 per Kg and that of super-fine has spiked to Rs 40 from Rs 38 per Kg.

Notably, several hectares of paddy fields across the valley were wasted a year ago due to the violent conflict that started on May 3, 2023.Before the conflict, local rice was sold between Rs 35 and Rs 40 per Kg.

To investigate the prices of varieties of rice, this reporter visited shops in the greater Imphal area.

Arambam Sumati, from Langthabal who sells Meitei cheng at Khwairamband Keithel, said she procures local rice at Rs 53 per Kg and sells them at Rs 55 (per Kg).

"Before the conflict, Meitei cheng was sold at between Rs 35 and Rs 40 per Kg.

Sample of super fine rice

A few months after the conflict broke out, the price spiked and reached Rs 45 per Kg.

This further rose to Rs 50 per Kg a month or two ago.

Now, it has reached Rs 55 per Kg," Sumati said.

Sumati said she procures the rice from Nongpok Sekmai, Charangpat and Khangabok etc.

She said she makes very little profit in selling Meitei cheng, and expressed that she may no longer be able to sustain the trade if the prices go up again.

At Canchipur Super Market, Khundrakpam Nehru said the unprecedented spike in the price of Meitei cheng is due to drastic fall in the supply.

Khundrakpam Nehru is from Heirok and he sells rice at the market.

He said majority of farmers in villages have stopped trading rice.

While the conflict had failed the crops at many places, it was further aggravated by lack of water in the fields.

Large tracts of paddy fields were wasted and deserted due to lack of rainfall and the conflict, he said.

Nehru said, while farmers who have rice stocks may have stopped selling them to make a profit later when the prices hiked further, many have stopped selling the rice as their stocks are running and they have nagging fear of famine.

A farmer from Imphal East's Top Chingtha said the prices have inflated because of low yield and huge cost incurred in cultivation.

Most paddy fields were lacking water due to scanty rainfall and as a result, farmers hired additional manpower and irrigation equipment to get water to their fields.

While this increased the cost of the cultivation, the yield was low.

Hence, farmers have increased the price of the rice to cover the cost and make a profit, he said.

Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM) president Gopen Luwang said while around 10,000 hectares of paddy fields were reported to have been wasted last year due to lack of water and the conflict, the Government recognised only 5,127 hectares as wasted.

He said the Government and the farmers should take up collective efforts to save the paddy fields this year to sustain and increase the yield.