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NEWS IN SEPTEMBER 2004

Essentials Prices Soaring at Western Border of Burma

Maungdaw, September 29: The prices of essentials keep soaring in the Maungdaw market in Arakan State, western Burma, on short supply, threatening to make a dent on the purse of the middle and lower income group during the month of Ramadan, which is just a few weeks away, said a trader who has a shop at Maungdaw town.

All most all kinds of vegetables and essentials are selling higher price per kg against the prices before the recent weeks while the price of rice goes down significantly, he further added.

Traders and shopkeepers attribute the increase the price to dearth of supply as the new harvest will be reached at the market at least one month later.

“As wholesalers raised the essentials prices, I have nothing to do but follow him,” said Abdul Hakim, a shopkeeper at Maungdaw kitchen market.

Wholesalers of Maungdaw market in return said, “ They are not getting enough supply to keep prices under control.”

Price hike before the month of Ramadan, is not a new phenomenon. But, this time, the price line seems to be curving up too much before the holy month, said a woman.

“I am spending Kyat- 800 a Viss (1 Viss= 1.75 kg) of pea which used to sell at Kyat-600 earlier, a businessman told to the Kaladan Press. Another buyer at the market said that he used to buy a Viss of onion at Kyat 250 from the market a week before. “ Now, I have to pay Kyat 600 for the same.” Jasim said, “Adding he had to pay Kyat 1,400 for a Viss of edible oil, which used to sell at Kyat 1,200 earlier.”

A 50 kg rice bag is being sold at Kyat-5, 000 to 5,500 from Kyat 6,000 one month ago, said a rice seller at Maungdaw.

Per Kg fish (good quality) at Kyat 1,500 to 1,700 from Kyat 1,000 to 1,200, less quality fish at Kyat 500 to 700 from the previous rate of Kyat 200 to 300 per kg, said a fish retailer.

A milk pot (sweetened condensed milk-397 gms) was priced at Kyat 450, which was sold at Kyat 380 previous week. A kg of dry chili is being sold at Kyat-1, 400 from Kyat 1,000 one week before. One cup of tea is being sold at Kyat 70 while it was sold at Kyat 60 before, said a shopkeeper.

Price of eggplant rose in a week from Kyat 120 to Kyat 150 a kg, beans from Kyat 250 to Kyat 300, ridged gourd from Kyat 120 to Kyat 150 and cucumber from Kyat 75 to Kyat 100, said a vegetable seller.

However, prices of onion, potato, beef, mutton, sugar, turmeric and chicken continued to remain normal until yesterday, said another trader who reached at Chittagong.

Source: Kaladanpress Network, September 29, 2004. 

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