Govt commences Yala paddy purchases

by Mohammed NAALIR

The Government has commenced Yala paddy purchases from last week, Cooperative and Internal Trade Ministry sources said.

The Government has purchased 953 metric tons of paddy from the South. Five metric tons from Ampara and eight metric tons from Anuradhapura have been purchased so far. A kilo of paddy is purchased at Rs. 28 to Rs. 30.

The Government is purchasing Yala paddy at a fair price from around the country including in the North and the East. The Government spent Rs. 51 billion to purchase paddy from farmers last year.

Special teams have been deployed by the Government in all areas this year to avoid inconveniences to farmers. Transport arrangements have also been made so that farmers could easily market their paddy harvest. The Government has decided to provide transport facilities within a 30-kilometre distance.

False propaganda is being carried out by some elements that the Government is experiencing a shortage of storage facilities, but there is no truth in these stories. The Government has 20,000 paddy stores.

Arrangements have been made to purchase paddy in the North too. During the last Maha season, the Government purchased 3,400 metric tons of paddy from Kilinochchi, the sources said.