PMB purchases bumper Yala harvest

The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has said purchasing of paddy from the farmers is being carried out successfully, and up to now nearly 3,000 metric tonnes of paddy has been purchased.

It is expected that 2 million metric tonnes of harvest can be obtained during this Yala Season.

Arrangements have been made to purchase 48,000 metric tonnes from the Northern Province alone. Purchasing of paddy at certified prices during this season started at the end of last month.  Rs. 5,100 million has been allocated for the purchase of paddy during the season.

The government has informed that additional allocations will be made if it becomes necessary. Paddy purchasing is being carried out at 65 centres in 17 districts. The government also plans to increase the number of centres to 150.  Already 155 metric tonnes from the Polonnaruwa district and 45 metric tonnes from the Anuradhapura district have been purchased.

The Paddy Marketing Board informs that it has purchased 1,200 metric tonnes of paddy from the Hambantota district and 656 metric tonnes and 222 metric tonnes from Moneragala and Ratnapura districts respectively, The District Agricultural Committee of the Hambantota district informs that 85 percent of harvest in the Hambantota district has been already gathered.

The PMB has established 15 centres for the purchase of paddy in the Hambantota district.

Paddy stocks are being purchased by the PMB at Rs. 30 per kilo for the Samba variety and at the rate of Rs. 28 per kilo for the Nadu variety.

In the Polonnaruwa district six purchasing centres have been established. A programme of purchasing paddy by mobile trucks in areas where there are no purchasing centres has also been launched.

The favourable weather conditions, provision of a fixed price for the paddy and the Government’s streamlined plan for the purchase of paddy have helped the farmers. (News.lk)