The government is considering easing restrictions imposed on the production of by-products from rice, Agriculture Minister K.D. Lal Kantha said.
The minister made the remarks during a meeting of the Mahaweli Water Management Committee held on Friday (13).
Lal Kantha noted that Sri Lanka currently produces only about 50% of its maize requirement locally, with the remaining demand being met through imports.
He said that due to the limited land available for maize cultivation, the country should instead focus on increasing rice production.
The minister further stated that the government does not intend to expand the extent of paddy cultivation land, but urged farmers to follow the cultivation guidelines issued by the Department of Agriculture to improve productivity.
He also stressed the importance of improving post-harvest management, including proper paddy drying and storage, to prevent large quantities from entering the market at the same time.
Ensuring fair income for farmers and strengthening food security remain key priorities, Lal Kantha said, adding that farmers would be discouraged from cultivation if they are not guaranteed a reasonable profit.
The minister also acknowledged that the Paddy Marketing Board’s intervention has been limited due to constraints related to storage facilities and staffing.
He thanked farmers and state officials for resuming cultivation following crop damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
Lal Kantha also urged farmers to increase the cultivation of Keeri Samba, noting that Sri Lanka still imports the rice variety to meet local demand.