The price of paddy has been decided on a scientific basis, and therefore the government’s recommended price of Rs. 120 will not be increased again, says Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha.
The Minister said that even though some organized groups are protesting and demanding a higher price for paddy, the price announced by the government will not change.
The Minister made this statement after a discussion with journalists in the Kandy district yesterday (14).
The Minister said that the price of rice in the market is at a low level, which has been a good situation for consumers. The Minister also said that paddy harvesting has begun in areas such as Ampara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, and said that the government’s recommended price is a fair price for farmers since the paddy yield in large-scale cultivation areas such as Mahaweli C is very high.
However, although the yield received by farmers in some areas has decreased relatively, the overall yield is high, so the government’s recommended price will remain stable during this Yala season, the Minister said.
He emphasized that no matter how much the organized groups raise their voices, the recommended price for paddy announced according to the government’s policy will not be changed at all.
Following the discussion with the President, the Minister further stated that it was a great relief for farmers that the main rice mill owners in the country agreed to purchase paddy at the government’s recommended price. However, the Minister also stated that farmers are facing difficulties in selling their paddy harvest due to the lack of proper methodology during previous administrations.
Kandy Mayor Chandrasiri Wijenayake also joined the event.
Nadeeka Daya Bandara – from Kandy.