August 31, Colombo (LNW): Paddy Marketing Board Chairman, Buddhika Iddamalgoda, announced plans to open 100 paddy storage facilities to support the purchasing of paddy during the Yala Season. Currently, 32 paddy warehouses have been opened in districts where harvesting has been completed. The Chairman also indicated that the Board anticipates increased sales of Samba and Keeri Samba varieties from farmers this season.
In June, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera submitted a Cabinet paper requesting Rs. 2 billion for paddy purchasing during the Yala Season. As an initial phase, the Cabinet, chaired by the President, approved the release of Rs. 500 million on August 26. Consequently, the Paddy Marketing Board began its purchasing activities on August 27.
Chairman Iddamalgoda noted that while the current market price for Keeri Samba rice has fallen to approximately Rs. 105-110, the government is offering to purchase stocks at the maximum controlled price of Rs. 130. However, he also mentioned that Nadu rice is fetching a higher market price, with private sector buyers purchasing it at Rs. 120. Given this, he expressed doubts that farmers would opt to sell their stocks to the Paddy Marketing Board at the government-controlled price.
