Govt. to increase the guaranteed price for paddy: Minister Amaraweera

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the government’s guaranteed price of paddy would be increased within the next few days. He said this at a function held on Saturday in Walasmulla. He said that, in order to give some relief to farmers, he was discussing with the Ministry of Finance which is under the Prime Minister to increase the price for paddy guaranteed by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) when making purchases from farmers. According to him, the President has given his approval for increasing the guaranteed price of paddy.

He also said that the Government should intervene in selling rice at concessionary rates to the customers despite the increase of the price of paddy. He said processed rice has been marketed under the name of PMB rice by the Paddy Marketing Board for the first time in history. According to him, our country had a share of 29% of the agriculture in the field of exports about 25 years ago. It has decreased gradually and last year it has decreased up to 7.9%.

He emphasized the fact that arrangements are being made to change this situation as the Minister of Agriculture by him and that the largest share of national income will be generated from agriculture. Any crop that can be cultivated in this country, should not be imported and high taxes would be levied to control the situation according to him.