PMB starts paddy purchasing

Irangika RANGE

The Government has started purchasing paddy from farmers in Kilinochchi and Mannar districts from last week.

On a proposal made by Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando, the Cabinet approved the purchase of 200,000 mt of paddy. The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) pays Rs 30 per kilo of Samba and Rs.28 per kilo of Nadu.

Minister Johnston Fernando said President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured sufficient funds to purchase paddy during the Maha season.

The PMB through its paddy purchasing centres located in the two districts have already purchased 200 mt of paddy from farmers.

"We will maintain this as a buffer stock to be released to a market during the shortage or used in an emergency situation," he said.

The Minister said the paddy purchasing will also be expedited in other districts to ease difficulties faced by farmers in selling their paddy to the Government.

Kilinochchi and Mannar in the North have recorded a bumper paddy harvest during the Maha season and the PMB has already increased a number of paddy purchasing centres across the country to purchase paddy.