Global Rice News

Rice Farmers in Garhi Khairo Protest Low Paddy Prices

Protesting farmers in Garhi Khairo took to the streets on Sunday to express their dissatisfaction with the low prices being offered for their paddy by traders. The farmers claim that while the government of Sindh has fixed the paddy price at Rs. 4,500 per maund, traders are only offering them Rs. 2,200 to Rs. 2,300 per maund for their rice.

The farmers argue that the prices offered are not sufficient to cover their production expenses. This is particularly troubling considering the significant increase in rice prices over the past year, which have risen by nearly 90%. The devastating floods in Sindh last year wiped out approximately 1.9 million tons, or 80%, of the expected rice crop production in the region.

The rise in rice prices can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the floods and the record increase in production costs at both the farming and milling stages. Rice is the second most consumed staple in Pakistan, with an annual consumption of over 3.7 million tons.

While paddy prices have decreased in Punjab, with a loss of nearly Rs. 1,500 per maund for the Basmati 1509 variety, this is due to the arrival of new crops from the South. The increased cultivated area in Pakistan is expected to result in the second-largest rice production in history, estimated at 9 million tons.

Furthermore, the recent crackdown on smuggling to Iran and Afghanistan may also play a role in stabilizing prices in the coming months. It is anticipated that prices will not increase significantly before the start of the next month.

Source: [BRecorder](https://www.brecorder.com){:target=”_blank”}