Export quality paddy required - Minister

Nadira Gunatilleke

Sri Lanka has still not been able to capture the International rice market because we do not produce large amounts of paddy varieties in demand in the International market. Our paddy production is not of export quality and does not meet the International standards, Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena said.

Addressing the gathering after distributing agricultural equipment and seeds among farmers at Polonnaruwa under `Api Wawamu – Rata Nagamu’ program, Minister Sirisena said that there are certain paddy varieties with high demand in the International market but here in Sri Lanka such varieties are not cultivated in a large scale to get adequate amount of crops to export.

Different districts grow different varieties of paddy on a small scale which does not produce the minimum required amount to export which is 50,000 metric tons.

According to Minister Sirisena, at least 50,000 metric tons of a variety of paddy is required to be exported and no variety of paddy is produced at present. The other problem is the quality of the production is very low and it is not of export quality and it is not up to International standards. Ten districts grow ten varieties of paddy in small amounts with low quality which is aimed at local consumption.

Minister Sirisena pointed out that proper nutrition is required to build a healthy nation and nutrition cannot be supplied without adequate food. The ‘Api Wawamu – Rata Nagamu’ program has already shown significant progress in the agricultural sector.

All paddy storages at present are full because paddy production increased during the recent past.

There should be a proper plan to buy paddy from the farmers and pay a good price for their crops.