Adulterated rice verities flood Ishwardi markets
Ishwardi (Pabna) Correspondent :
Rice of different varieties in Ishwardi and the surrounding market has become intoxicated with adulterated fragrances mixed along with artificial flavors. It has been alleged that a class of unscrupulous traders are marketing the 90 varieties of rice developed by the Rice Research Institute by adding chemical flavorings to Atavachal to earn exorbitant profits due to the high price of high-quality Chinigunda (also known as Kalojira/Govindbhog) rice. Common customers take this rice home for cooking pollau-biryani-pais after washing it, there is no more fragrance. In addition to consumers being cheated, there remains health risks associated with food containing chemicals. Now besides haat-bazaar, flavored rice is being sold at the price of Tk 75-80 per kg by miking battery-powered auto-rickshaws in neighborhood-mahalla and village-to-village in the name of Sugandhi Atavchal.
Talking to farmers, rice traders, rice millers and agriculture officials, it is known that such rice used to be imported from Maharashtra in India long ago. Five years ago, the agricultural scientists of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute developed 90 varieties of small and thin rice. The yield of this rice is also high and is not attacked by insects. It also has some fragrance. It was initially in great demand as an alternative to chicken miniket and Nazirshail rice. During the Eri-Boro season, a large amount of Ejat rice is grown in Chalanbil and Jessore regions. But now some crops are being planted in Amon season. The millers said that there is a lot of loss due to rice cracking during rice cultivation with Eri-Boro season rice. That’s why the millers don’t want to buy this paddy now. As a result, the price of 90 varieties of rice has dropped a lot. However, the Amon season rice does not crack much. Currently, 90 varieties of paddy are being sold at the price of 1,200 taka in various markets in the northern region. Manjurul Alam, the owner of Ishwardi’s rice paddy, said that high-quality real sugar powder or black cumin rice is made from domestic BR 34 rice. The wholesale price of 50 kg bag is 6 thousand five hundred taka. And the price of one kg in the retail market is Tk 140-150. Aromatic scents from India and Germany are mixed with 90 varieties of rice in liquid or powder form. He said that the price of 50 kg of fragrant rice in Mokam of Chapai Nawabganj is Tk 3,000-3,500. That is, the price of one kg is 60-70 taka. A class of unscrupulous businessmen of Ishwardi, Kushtia, Bogra and Chapai Nawabganj are selling low-priced rice at a high price by adding perfume to it.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Mita Sarkar said, adding chemical flavoring to normal rice is illegal. These artificial fragrances in liquid or powder form are very harmful to the human body if they are not of food grade.
