Dhaka, Nov. 26 -- Paddy prices during the ongoing Aman harvest season are slightly lower than last year's, with farmers and market observers attributing the decline to continued rice imports and the strong presence of millers in the market.

According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, dry guti swarna paddy is selling for Tk 1,200-1,250 per maund in Nilphamari, Dinajpur, Rangpur, Naogaon, and Rajshahi. Last year, prices stood at Tk 1,300-1,320 per maund.

Finer shampa-katari varieties are trading at Tk 1,500-1,550 per maund in parts of Dinajpur and Nilphamari, a 7.0-8.0 per cent decline from last year.

Imtiaz Kabir Chowdhury, a farmer and trader from Dimla in Nilphamari, said the profit margin on guti swarna paddy is only 1.0-2...