Arakan rice company sells reduced price rice for storm victims

By Admin 12 Jun 2023

DMG Newsroom
12 June 2023, Sittwe

Arakan Rice & Paddy Co Ltd is selling rice at low prices for storm-hit communities in Arakan State.

The company started selling rice at the management committee office of Sittwe’s central market on Monday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m daily, according to director U San Oo Kyaw of Arakan Rice & Paddy Co Ltd.

“We sell rice for Arakan people who are having a hard time due to the storm. We are selling without taking any profit. We only sell to consumers and not to retailers,” said U San Oo Kyaw.

The company directly ships rice sacks from Yangon to Sittwe. Rice is sold for 89,000 kyats per sack, 49,000 kyats for smaller bags, and 24,500 kyats for a basket.

The company will continue to sell as long as it can buy rice from Yangon, said U San Oo Kyaw.  Local people in Arakan State have welcomed the move.

“We are grateful to the company for that. We can only get a little rice for the same amount of money charged by the company. We hope that the company will sell more rice to us,” said Daw Nu Nu, a resident of Mingan ward.

The prices of basic foodstuffs including rice have surged in Arakan State following Cyclone Mocha in mid-May, and many are struggling to make ends meet.

“The quality of the rice is not bad. It is also convenient to buy, and is also cheaper. I can’t afford to pay the prices currently charged in the market. I have a lot of difficulties as I lost my house in the storm,” said U Aung Kyaw Thein, a resident of Rupa Myauk Ward.

Cyclone Mocha, which hit Arakan State on May 14, caused widespread property damage while affecting more than 1.2 million people.

Many storm victims need food, medicines, shelter and drinking water, with significant challenges facing them on the rehabilitation road ahead.