Rice prices to be stable despite crop damages

Revealing this to DT Next, paddy and rice merchants’ association secretary CN Arun said, “we expect rice prices to start from Rs 32 per kilo at the retail end. The 140 hulling units in Arani taluk in Tiruvannamalai have already started working full time to convert arrivals from both within TN and also from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.” He said “ponni paddy will arrive later for conversion to rice and its price will start from Rs 38 per kilo. Mill owners are happy that arrivals are regular despite the recent heavy spell of rains. Arani along with Manachanallur in Tiruchy district are the state’s major hulling centres.

Stating that there would be a shortfall of around 30 per cent for arrivals from the Delta districts as they were seriously affected by Cyclone Burevi, Arun said, “We usually get around 12,000 metric tonnes from the Delta annually, but this year we anticipate arrivals to be around 10,000 metric tonnes.” Integrated Vellore district provides around 8,000 tonnes and arrivals will start from next January, he added. “For the present we are able to make do with arrivals from Karnataka and AP,” he added. He also said that demand for slim rice labeled OM 3 is picking up.