Country has ample paddy stocks - minister

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The country has ample paddy stocks and the government will never keep people starving, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane said.

Even though we will not be able to cultivate two seasons, we have enough stock for local consumption for another year, said the minister. He said so participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Asian Productivity Organization Training Course on Organic Product Certification and Auditing recently at Goldi Sands Hotel, Negombo.

Minister Abeywardane said: "If the prevailing dry weather condition is continuing, it will badly affect the country's rice production. But no one should be worried as we have enough paddy stocks."

"We request farmers to cultivate short term rice varieties or additional crops for this Yala season to overcome the dry weather condition prevailing in most parts of the country. We have received another export order for maize. But still we have not accepted it due to the present situation in the country," said the minister.

The minister added that climate change is a challenge for the development of the agriculture sector. "But we should overcome all these challenges by using modern technology and various cultivation methods," he said.