Agriculture Minister assures no shortage of rice till Maha season

• Asserts over 500,000 of acres cultivated in Yala season have high yields in several districts
• Says no need to fear of shortage 
• Admits no buffer stock availability with Govt., as farmers refrain selling paddy to PMB

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera assured that that the country will not face a rice shortage, as the current stocks of paddy and rice will be sufficient till the next harvest in the Maha season.

He noted that 503,000 hectares were cultivated in the Yala season and due to the high yield in several districts the country will have adequate stocks.

Despite the loss of crops in around 100,000 acres of paddy fields in the Yala season due to the ongoing drought, the Minister stressed that there will not be a shortage of rice.

Citing an assessment made by the Agriculture Department, Amaraweera said many fields that have harvested have high yields.

The Agriculture Minister therefore said there is no need to fear that there will be a shortage of rice.

However he admitted that the Government has no buffer stock of rice or paddy, since farmers are refraining from selling paddy to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMDB) at present.

“At present, all paddy stocks are with the private sector,” he added.