Wholesale rice prices of the widely consumed emata variety declined marginally in March 2024, reflecting the start of the 2023 secondary rice harvest, production of which is expected to increase year-on-year. In March, prices remained 46 percent higher year-on-year, after steadily increasing between November 2023 and February 2024, supported by tight market availability due to below average outputs in 2022 and 2023. High prices of agricultural inputs and transport costs, and conflict-related disruptions to markets also supported prices.