Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera on Wednesday (27) advised Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) Chairman Buddhika Iddamalgoda to close the warehouses of the PMB which were opened for the purchase of paddy in the 2023 Yala season, after September 30.
The PMB opened 39 warehouses for the purchase of paddy in the Yala season. The PMB took steps to buy a kilogram of nadu paddy at Rs. 95, samba paddy at Rs. 100 and a kilogram of keeri samba paddy at Rs. 105 in a situation where the price of paddy was decreasing by Rs. 60 to Rs. 70.
As the PMB bought paddy at a price higher than Rs.95, the private sector increased the paddy price to Rs.110. Due to this, the farmers were able to get a good price for their paddy harvest.
The farmers did not sell the paddy to the PMB under the relevant prices. Steps were taken to sell them to the private sector at higher prices.
However, this year the PMB has purchased 2.5 million kilos of paddy. Rs. 500 million obtained from the Agricultural Trust Fund at eight percent interest was used to buy paddy, but only Rs. 300 million could be spent.
The reason is that although the Government has given subsidies of Rs. 20,000 per hectare and Rs. 40,000 per two hectares and even provided free TSP fertilizer in the Yala season, the farmers have not taken any steps to sell the paddy to the Paddy Marketing Board.
The Yala season is ending now. Therefore, there is no point in keeping the warehouses open anymore.
The PMB has decided to close those warehouses after September 30 as the operating charges are increasing and the farmers are not selling paddy to the Paddy Marketing Board.
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