Controversy over rice varieties should end

The row over 'miniket' and 'jeerashail' has turned uglier with the ministry of commerce (MoC) revoking the directive of the Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection (DNCRP). Here, the bone of contention is the fictitious name given to rice after cutting and polishing coarser varieties like BRRI Dhan 28 manifestly to deceive consumers and making higher profit. The DNCRP imposed a ban on this type of artificially changed rice under the name of 'miniket' and 'jeerashail' on July 13 last. Strangely, the auto rice millers in the country have nowhere challenged the DNCRP contention. Instead, they have sought intervention by the MoC and additionally raised the spectre of a food crisis as part of an intimidating tactic. The MoC has duly given in to the millers' demand. Now the very status of DNCRP has been put into question. It has been left licking its wounds.

A study carried out by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) in 2023 confirmed that local millers excessively polish coarser rice to market it as 'miniket' although it does not exist officially. Manipulation with rice is not limited to BRRI Dhan 28-turned 'miniket' or 'jeerashail', the finer varieties are equally suspect. A genuine rice trader would admit that there is no such stuff as 'nazir shail'. In the rice growing belt it was known as 'paisam', its natural name. But it is no longer grown commercially because of lower production. Other coarse varieties are polished and passed as 'nazir shail'. The 2023 DAM study came out with the revelation that 5.17 million tonnes of rice out of a total of 40 million get wasted in the process of overpolishing. As a result, the country has to import rice from abroad and at the same time consumers are doubly cheated---first, by forcing them to buy rice shorn of its nutritious values and second, to make them pay higher prices for a fake item.

The only saving grace in the controversy over the disputed rice varieties is that the MoC has asked the food ministry to look into the matter and make the ultimate decision on the marketing of those varieties. In fact, it is the National Seed Board that reserves the right to pronounce the verdict on this controversial issue. Of course, the agricultural scientists involved with the development of various types of BRRI Dhan in Bangladesh are expert in such matters. Their opinions may also be taken in resolving this controversy. Any tinkering with the original shape and size of the staple is a punishable offence. So, the controversy should be brought to an end once and for all.

There is no point allowing any myth surrounding the nation's staple to continue. It is also undesirable that big trading groups or auto rice millers would use marketing stunt by attributing some eye-catching name to rice that actually has no existence. Rice, crops, fruits and vegetables are not like industrial products or feed. Rice market is under the control of the rice millers and groups of companies which have entered the business in recent times. Together they take the nation hostage and raise prices at their sweet will. There is nothing to be surprised if they are diverting the attention from the volatile rice market by raising this latest controversy.