Expressing resentment over the hike in rice prices despite high yields of paddy, the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture ministry yesterday asked senior officials of the agriculture ministry to identify and take action against those responsible.

Matia Chowdhury, ruling AL lawmaker and former agriculture minister, presided over the meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, where the JS body criticised field-level agriculture officers for their inaction over the price hike of rice.

Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque, who is also a member of the parliamentary body, told the meeting that despite bumper production of paddy, price of rice is very high which is unacceptable, meeting sources told The Daily Star.

The minister also said there was no shortage of fertiliser or seeds during the production of paddy and questioned the illogical hike in rice prices.

"Instead of visiting the field, you [agriculture officers] stay at your houses. Don't do that. Visit the field to look into the matter," said a committee member.

The agriculture minister asked why are rice prices so high in the country when the present government has made such huge strides in the agricultural sector.

The harvesting season of Aman paddy is underway but most people are struggling to buy rice as the price of the staple is quite high.

Rice is being sold at Tk 55-60 a kilogramme in the local market and it has remained that way in the last four months.

The JS body also recommended encouraging farmers to increase cultivation of palm, sunflower, mustard and soybean crops in addition to Boro paddy cultivation.

Committee members Imaz Uddin, Mamunur Rashid Kiran, Jayasen Gupta, Umme Kulsum Smriti and Hosne Ara participated in the meeting.