Govt. to maintain rice buffer stock
by L. S. A. Wedaarachchi
[email protected]
The government will maintain 'rice buffer stock', following a
successful paddy harvest this maha season said Secretary, Minister of
Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services, T. M. Abeywicrama.
This year's Maha season paddy harvest exceeded last year's Maha
season paddy harvest by 40484 mt. This year's Yala-Maha paddy harvest is
estimated to be around 969436 mt, an increase of 140216 mt he said.
According to the secretary 28,732 hectares of neglected paddy fields
have been cultivated this year under the Api Wawamu - Rata Nagamu
agriculture development project.
The revamped Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has setup 54 paddy stores in
the agricultural districts. The Treasury provided Rs. 2,000 million to
the PMB for a revolving fund and the Treasury has agreed to release more
funds for paddy purchases, he said. According to regional reports the
private sector purchases paddy from farmers at a higher rate than the
PMB.
Under the Nagenehira Novodaya project all neglected paddy fields in
the Eastern Province were cultivated resulting in a bumper harvest. |
