The Prime Minister delivering a special statement in parliament said the government considers it as its responsibility to provide maximum benefits to the paddy farmers as well as the consumers.
Responding to a query raised by JVP Parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Prime Minister said the government has set aside funds to purchase 120,000 metric tons of paddy of the Yala season harvest. By yesterday, the government has purchased 90,400 metric tons at a price of Rs. 50 for a kilo of Kiri Samba and Samba and Rs. 45 for a kilo of Nadu.
MP Dissanayake asked whether action will be initiated to increase the quantity of paddy purchased from each cultivator and whether measures would be taken to introduce machines for the farmers to dry the paddy. He also asked whether the Government would increase the number of purchasing centers and enhance facilities.
Prime Minister Wickremasinghe said the highest ever paddy harvest in the Yala season in Sri Lanka's history has been recorded this year. He informed the parliament that in order to hand over the benefits to a larger number of farmers, the purchases from a single farmer are restricted to 2000 kilos. Farmers are receiving a stable price for their produce at 180 purchasing centers.
He explained that congestion occurred due to the rush to sell paddy stocks. To resolve the problem, the government was compelled to utilize the services of Civil Defense Department officers in addition to officials of the Paddy Marketing Board, the Divisional Secretariats and Agrarian Development Department and to hold mobile services.
The Prime Minister told the House a more methodical procedure should be implemented to purchase the paddy harvest in the coming Maha season. He said initiatives will be taken to establish a National Agricultural Authority with full powers for the purchase of paddy and enhance the storage facilities.
The PM also said that the purchased paddy stocks will be dispatched to small and medium scale paddy mills through tender procedures with the aim to stabilize the rice market. The Paddy Marketing Board activities will be carried out without causing any injustice to the farmer and the consumer.
He promised to find long term solutions through discussion with political party leaders under the initiative of the President.
