Govt. to purchase 300,000 tonnes of paddy

6 November 2020 05:27 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Paddy Marketing Board will purchase 300,000 tonnes of paddy from the next harvest to stave off possible rice mafia, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.

The Minister told Daily Mirror such a stock, once milled, would provide rice sufficed for one month. He said it would enable the government to prevail upon the market forces.

“At the moment, we have only 20,000 tonnes. We are actually planning to buy ten percent of the Maha harvest at Rs. 50 a kilo. Farmers will receive fertilizer subsidy for two hectares of rice field each. Then, they will be bound to sell off a portion of their harvest to the Paddy Marketing Board,” he said.

The Minister said private traders had monopolized the industry leaving both farmers and consumers in the lurch.

“A third group of middlemen has also emerged now. They buy paddy from farmers and stock them. Later, they sell such stocks off to mill owners with a huge profit margin,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)

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Comments - 10

Chux Friday, 06 November 2020 08:31 AM

Very good move large junk will go to his pocket soon

R. Ratnapala (Farmer from Polanaruwa) Friday, 06 November 2020 08:59 AM

Good move keep it up. Rice mafia created by Dudley at Polanaruwa should be completely destroyed. Please work out on that.

John Karunaratne Friday, 06 November 2020 09:00 AM

You are a man of action, do it fast.... really appreciate your valuable service to our nation.

Saman De Silva Friday, 06 November 2020 09:01 AM

You are only bluffing and cheating the public. Get lost.

Do Do Doo Friday, 06 November 2020 09:02 AM

One fine day, you will become the President or PM our country. Good luck.

Asela Kuluppuarachchi Friday, 06 November 2020 09:11 AM

Can the Government do it successfully? I am not sure, but I wish

Sebastian Vinoth Friday, 06 November 2020 10:05 AM

Aah, Aah, Aah

Lanka putha Friday, 06 November 2020 10:08 PM

Don't worry aluth will fixed it. Money in pocket

Buddhist Friday, 06 November 2020 11:12 PM

Rata Vakina viruwa surrendered to Rice Mafia.

DJ Saturday, 07 November 2020 04:20 PM

Kung-fu man can't fight the rice mafia. All talk foul mouth of a man

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Govt. to purchase 300,000 tonnes of paddy

Comments - 10

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