Despite bumper Boro production, at least 600 rice mills in the district have been facing serious problems as rice imported from India flooded the locals markets.
The workers employed by the mill authorities have also been passing jobless time.
Sources at Magura rice mills owners’ association confirmed the aforesaid claim, saying 400 mills of the figure are now inoperative while the rest 200 are on the verge of closure.
According to local Agriculture Extension Department (DAE), the district has experienced a bumper rice production of 14050mt this season as desired.
It was learnt that Boro harvest time is almost end there and the rice milling process was supposed to start at present. But the scenario in this time is wholly different as the local rice traders are not interested in their task due to the Indian rice that led to a decrease in the demand.
One kg Indian rice is being sold for Tk27-28 while the local variety is Tk34-35. Owing to the low price, the consumers prefer Indian rice.
Consequently, the traders are reluctant to start the rice processing from paddy in the mills. Besides, about 700 workers under the mills have become jobless.
When contacted, a rice mill owner named Golam Sarwar in Nanduali area of the district town, said local markets see huge Indian rice hauls and its low price attract the consumers.
“In this situation, we are not eager to start the rice milling process in fear of possible loss. In line with it, my 18 workers are also now jobless. About 700 workers like them will also fall in a great uncertainty unless the government stops the rice import from Indian,” Golam Sarwar continued.
Hamida Banu, a rice mill worker from Katakhali village in Sadar upazilla, said echoted the voice of Sarwar, telling that they remained jobless for about one month as they work on daily basis.
When contacted, Magura Zila Banik Samity General Secretary Humayan Kabir Raza said the rice mills there have been facing serious setback because of the low price Indian imported rice.
District rice distributor Md Jakir Hossen admitted consumers prefer Indian rice than the locally-produced variety.