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| Sunday, 5 September 2004 |
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Rice from Pakistan by L. S. A. Wedaarachchi Paddy wholesale buyers and paddy millers are building up paddy stocks paying high prices to the farmers in the Southern province. Farmers were paid Rs. twenty four (Rs. 24) for a kilo of red rice and Rs. sixteen for white rice (Rs. 16) in the paddy field itself. The additional Rs. one thousand (Rs. 1000) was paid for a lorry load of paddy to the intermediary who arranged the deal between the farmer and the buyer at Walasmulla-Katuwana areas, last week. Widespread drought in the Southern, Wayamba, North Central and Uva Provinces has caused a great deal of harm to the paddy harvest of this year. Even in Southern Province, paddy harvest except at Walasmulla and Katuwana areas has been damaged - by the drought. The farmers of Walasmulla and Katuwana areas started to reap the harvest few days ago. According to them, they are fortunate enough this time for a very good red rice paddy harvest as well as to fetch high price for their paddy. On the other hand the government controlled price for a kilo of paddy is Rs. fifteen (Rs. 15). The prices of rice have gone up during the last few months and the price of Red rice is Rs. 45 and the price of white Samba is Rs. 40 today. S. Virithmulla, Secretary of the Consumer Affairs Ministry when contacted by Sunday Observer stated that the ministry was fully aware of the situation and steps have been taken to protect the consumers as well as the farmers. "It is good that farmers get a good price for their harvest. On the other hand steps should be taken to safeguard the consumers from unscrupulous traders who resort to sell them at unreasonable prices," he said. As a short-term measure government has made arrangements to import IRR 6 rice from Pakistan. Pakistani rice will be available at a reasonable price in the local market shortly, he assured. Meanwhile Consumer Affairs Ministry and the Agriculture Ministry have taken long-term measures to supply rice at a reasonable price in the future. |
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