Rs. 32 minimum price per kilo for maize farmers

Maize farmers will get a Rs. 32 as minimum price per kilo the Finance Ministry said.

It said maize suppliers have agreed to pay a minimum farm gate price of Rs. 32 per kilo of maize which is to be harvested within next few weeks.  

This agreement was reached at a discussion held recently at the Ministry of Finance and Planning with the maize suppliers, farmer organizations, and the representatives of the companies of the animal products.  

Dr. P.B. Jayasundera, Secretary to the Treasury, chaired the discussion.  Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Secretary to the Ministry of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, Secretary to the Ministry of Livestock and Rural community Development, District Secretaries of Anuradhapura and Moneragala, and several other officials were also present at the discussion.

The Secretary to the Treasury stated that the expected harvest of maize is 250,000 metric tons and thereby, granting a price of Rs. 32 to the farmers is a victory of the Government.

It was further discussed that the farmers become helpless when price declined due to the increase of harvest during the previous occasions and now the situation has changed.

The Secretary to the Treasury further stated that the Government will provide necessary facilities to export the surplus of agricultural crops and will encourage initiating exports in chicken and related products.