In the wake of increased demand:

Release of 100,000 metric tons paddy

Irangika RANGE

The government has decided to release 100,000 metric tons of paddy from the buffer stocks maintained by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) stores islandwide to meet consumer demand.

The PMB has currently maintained a buffer stock of 150,000 metric tons of paddy in its stores islandwide. "We have decided to release 100,000 metric tons out of the total amount of 150,000 metric tons of paddy in its granaries in view of the Maha season harvest expected at the end of next month," a Co-operatives and Internal Trade Ministry spokesman said.

He said that around 55,000 metric tons of paddy stocks purchased from islandwide farmers last year had been milled at state and private sector mills.The PMB's involvement of purchasing paddy from countrywide farmers has resulted in maintaining the prices of all varieties of rice at a stable level in the market. This has also helped farmers to get reasonable prices for their paddy harvest.

He said that the PMB possesses 141 granaries islanwide to store the paddy harvest purchased from farmers. Four more granaries have been newly set up under the instructions of Minister Johnston Fernando to facilitate farmers," he further added.