10 August
THE PRICE of Shwebo Pawsan, a superior variety of local rice, has reached K55,000 per bag, an increase of K7,000 per bag in the last seven months, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
This year, the price of Shwebo Pawsan was K48,000 per bag in January, K50,000 in February and March, K52,000 in April, and K55,000 in May. The price continued to increase in the months of June and July.
While a bag of Shwebo Pawsan rice cost K43,500 in 2014, the price rose to K55,000 between May and July this year, an increase of more than 20 per cent in six years.
According to the MRF, rice price has seen a record increase between 2014 and July, 2019. Ayeyawady Pawsan fetched K35,000 per bag and Shwebo Pawsan K43,500 per bag in the local market in 2014. Meanwhile, Ayeyawady Pawsan was priced at K43,000 and Shwebo Pawsan K55,000 in 2019.
The price of Eimahta 25 Marks rice was K15,500 per bag in 2014, and increased to K18,000 in 2019.
In 2015, a 180-pound Shwebo Pawsan rice bag cost K47,000, Ayeyawady Pawsan K38,000, Eimahta 25 Marks K16,500, and Nga Sein 25 Marks K17,000.
In 2016, a 180-pound Shwebo Pawsan rice bag was selling for K43,000, Ayeyawady Pawsan K36,000, Eimahta 25 Marks K20,000, and Nga Sein 25 Marks K20,500.
In 2017, a 180-pound Shwebo Pawsan rice bag cost K46,000, Ayeyawady Pawsan K38,000, Eimahta 25 Marks K20,000, and Nga Sein 25 Marks K18,300.
In 2018, a 180-pound Shwebo Pawsan rice bag was priced at K65,000, Ayeyawady Pawsan K53,000, Eimahta 25 Marks K19,700, and Nga Sein 25 Marks K22,000, according to the MRF.
As of August, 2019, the price of Pathein Pawsan was ranging between K40,000 and K44,000 per bag, Pyapon Pawson between K38,000 and K40,000, Eimahta between K19,000 and K20,000, and Nga Sein between K19,000 and K19,700. —Aye Cho (Translated by Hay Mar)
