The process of purchasing paddy for the Maha season will commence tomorrow from Ampara district.
The inauguration ceremony of purchasing paddy will be held today at 3.30 pm at the Paddy Marketing Board warehouse complex in Akkaraipattu, Ampara with the participation of Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Minister of Agriculture for Promotion of Paddy and Cereals, Organic Food, Vegetables, Fruits, Chilies, Salt and Potatoes, Seed Production and High Technologies Shashindra Rajapaksa.
During the last Cabinet Meeting, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal made by the Agriculture Minister to implement paddy purchasing programme of 2020/21 Maha Season. The Paddy Marketing Board has made arrangements to purchase paddy at guaranteed prices with the aim of minimizing the unexpected fall in paddy prices and it is expected to purchase 300,000 Metric Tons through the Paddy Marketing Board.
Cabinet approval granted to purchase standard Nadu at a price of Rs. 50.00 per kg of paddy with 14 percent moisture and Rs. 44.00 per kg of paddy with 14 percent -22 percent moisture.
Standard Samba will be purchased at a Rs. 52.00 per kg of paddy with 14 percent moisture and Rs. 46,00 per kg of paddy with 14 percent -22 percent moisture.
With regard to small and large scale irrigated farmers who receive fertilizer subsidy, to purchase paddy by the Paddy Marketing Board according to the extent of cultivated land. At least 1000 Kg will be purchased from farmers who cultivate between 1-1.5 hectares and 1500kg will be purchased from fartners who cultivate up to 1.5 hectares and up to 2.
