Lack of storage facilities hits paddy purchase

by L.B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

The Government has provided Rs. 20 million to Multi Purpose Co-operative Societies to buy paddy from farmers in Minipe and Hasalaka colonisation schemes in the Kandy district.

But they have failed to make any purchases during this Yala season for want of storage facilities. These five societies purchased only about 1 million kilos of paddy at prices ranging between Rs. 15.50 and 16.50 per kilo during the last Maha season.

It was much less than the production since they could not purchase any more for want of funds and storage facilities in particular.

During the Maha season, Minipe MPCS has bought 500,000 kilos of by spending Rs. 128 lakhs and Hasakala MPCS has purchased 250,000 kilos by spending Rs. 42 lakhs. Generally 5000,000 kilos of paddy are produced per season in these schemes.

Due to the inability on the part of these co-op societies, farmers are compelled to sell their produce to the private sector at lower prices.

During the Yala season, 18,000 acres have been cultivated and the Government has provided funds to purchase the produce but the Co-ops have failed to make any purchases for want of storage facilities.

They say stores earlier owned by the Paddy Marketing Board should be made available in order to buy paddy from farmers at government rates.