Imported rice arrives

Lakshmi DE SILVA

The paddy yield during the Yala crop season 2009 mainly in the Ampara, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, the major paddy producing districts had declined resulting in a shortage of rice. Therefore the government had imported 50,000 metric tons of rice that had already arrived in the country, Agriculture Ministry Secretary S. Amarasekara said.

Addressing a press conference at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute auditorium yesterday, he said another 40,000 metric tons of rice will arrive tomorrow.

Yet another 40,000 consignment of rice will be arriving in mid January 2010. The government had negotiated imports of rice with India and Vietnam to overcome a shortage taking place, he said.

The total monthly consumption of rice was 180,000 to 190,000 tons. The world rice production during this period had dropped by three percent and India too had experienced the drop in rice production. Though India had banned exports of rice she was prepared to export 25,000 tons of rice, he noted.

Agriculture was dependent on good weather. The Yala season suffered dry weather in many paddy producing areas in 2009. World prices of rice have escalated and the private sector was reluctant to import rice due to the high prices. Rumours were also being spread about a shortage of rice and there was panic buying by some consumers that also added to the problem, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute Director Prof Ranjith Premalal de Silva said.

The government's policy of encouraging rice consumption and decreasing wheat flour consumption also was one reason for the problem. Per capita annual consumption of wheat flour had reduced by 10 kilograms while rice consumption had increased from 2005 to 2009, he noted.

Rising to the occasion

40,000 mt of rice arrive tomorrow

Another 40,000 mt arriving in mid January

Govt negotiated rice imports with India, Vietnam