‘Largest paddy stock purchased by PMB’

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

Around 112,000 tons of paddy are lying in storage and this the surplus rice stocks after meeting the country’s total rice requirement, Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando said.

“The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has purchased the largest stocks of paddy this season. These excess stocks will not be sold to local traders or exported.The paddy stocked in the PMB stores is a buffer stock to be utilized in the event of a future food shortage in the country, “he added.

“We have exported rice, but, not from the stocks which we have purchased this season. These are stocks of the previous season. The Opposition has made various statements to the media about rice being exported. But I wish to tell them to make statements after having a good understating about the current situation.”, Minister Fernando said.

“There are huge paddy stocks still in the storages in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The statements of the UNP members are the reason to stock this paddy in their stores without selling. All arrangements are in place to purchase the entire paddy stocks in farmers’ stores,” the minister further explained.