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| Sunday, 27 March 2005 |
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Editorial
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Govt to purchase the highest amount of paddy by Deepal Warnakulasuriya Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Ministry is ready to purchase nearly two million metric tonnes of paddy as the highest ever in history. Minister Anura Dissanayake at a press briefing held at the Ministry premises last week highlighted that the previous government had spent only Rs. 385 million in 2002 for both seasons to purchase the paddy harvest and it was Rs. 484 million in 2003. Alliance government so far has released Rs. 1000 million to buy Maha Season harvest, enabling the farmers to sell their products at a reasonable price. The Minister also reiterated that the Treasury had agreed to provide any amount the scheme needs to buy the harvest. He also admitted that shortcomings are there while working towards buying a historic harvest. However, he denied the Opposition's allegation that the government's paddy purchasing scheme was a failure. He said the scheme was more satisfactory in Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Hambantota and Ampara districts than they expected. "Dimbulagala, Egodapattuwa and several other places in Polonnaruwa had some problems with sudden rains and transport problems. We will take immediate measurers to avoid the situation", the Minister told the media. However, the Ministry had not received weekly reports on time from the relevant GAs with the details of paddy purchasing and it made the Minister to avoid provision of districtwise paddy purchasing details to the media. Anyhow, he further said that the government would be able to engage directly in controlling the rice price in the market and sometimes would be creating opportunities to export rice to the World Market too. Meanwhile, ministry had also planned to buy over one lakh of quality seed
paddy for the use of farmers at the next season cultivations. |
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Editorial | Security | Produced by Lake House |
