BENGALURU: The retail price of the staple rice has increased in the city due to the rise in its export from India to other countries.
The price of the rice, which was about Rs 50 per kg last week, has increased to Rs 55 per kg. The price rise is mainly due to the shortage of paddy in Karnataka and the cost of various varieties of rice such as Sona Masuri, raw rice, idli rice and Rose Matta rice have witnessed a sharp increase. With the prices being jacked up in the APMC market, the retail market has consequently seen an increase.
The price of Sona Masuri rice has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 55 per kg, Dosa rice from Rs 38 to Rs 43 per kg, Rose Matta rice from Rs 55 to Rs 60 per kg and Bullet rice from Rs 70 to Rs 75 per kg.
“The retail price of the rice has increased by Rs 5-6 per kg. Our country exports rice to other countries around the world. The price will come down depending on the fresh harvest and also if they reduce rice export”, said Sairam Prasad, secretary of the Bengaluru Rice Merchants Association.