Rice prices have spiraled out of control in Northern Burma which is partly dependant on rice transported from Southern Burma following the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Irrawaddy River Delta, the rice-bowl of Burma, local sources said.

A sack of ordinary rice called Chin-tong has increased to over 24,000 Kyat (est. US $ 21.3) from about 10,000 Kyat (US $ 9) in January. This variety of rice is eaten by a majority of people in Myitkyina Township, the capital of Kachin State, a resident told KNG today.

The price of salt has also increased to three times the price that prevailed earlier and a kilogram of iodine laced salt is now 500 Kyat per packet up from 150-200 Kyats, residents added.

In Kachin State, salt is mainly transported from Southern Burma and local people are worried more about daily food prices and its availability rather than repressive military rule in the country after the junta's new constitution was said to have been approved by 92.4 percent of voters in the referendum on May 10, according to Myitkyina residents.

Meanwhile, the government's enrollment in schools is starting in a week but some students' parents are purchasing rice with the saved school fees of their children, residents told KNG.

A student's parents in Myitkyina told KNG, that the schools are collecting a very small amount of money during the first enrollment period. However the schools are used to demanding all necessary fees from the students' parents for the whole academic year.

Because of school enrollment, all basic food prices have shot up in Myitkyina. However, consumers are crowding the township markets, eye witnesses said.