Representatives of the Paddy Farmers’ Associations in the Polonnaruwa, Elahara, Hingurakgoda, Minneriya and Kurunegala Districts said that a team of higher officials should be sent by the President to rice producing areas to discuss farmers’ grievances over paddy prices.
A leading farmer association organizer in Diyabeduma in Polonnaruwa, Shelton Perera, said that unless the President intervenes over this long standing issue, they will not discuss this matter. He said the discussions they already had with persons without knowledge on cultivating paddy ended without a proper decision.
He said that they spend between Rs. 48,000 and Rs. 52,000 on an acre during one season until they reap the harvest. “Therefore, the farmers will not sell paddy at the Government approved price of Rs. 55 a kilo,” he said.
He said that the paddy will be sold including Nadu at Rs. 65, Samaba at Rs. 70 and Keeri Samba between Rs. 90 and Rs. 95 a kilo. Nimal Piyathilaka, a farmer, said Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage at a recent meeting in Polonnaruwa promised them that the prices of paddy will be increased from the next Maha season, but they did not agree and asked the Minister to increase the price from this season considering the large sum of money they have already spent on cultivating paddy during the Yala season.
He, therefore, asked authorities to reconsider the farmers’ request and pay between Rs. 65 and Rs. 90 a kilo of paddy to resolve the issue.
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