Paddy cultivators stage protest in Anuradhapura

By Dayaratne Embogama

Colombo, July 25 (Daily Mirror) - Paddy cultivators in the Anuradhapura District yesterday staged a protest in Anuradhapura town against the poor guaranteed price for paddy and demanded a minimum price of Rs.150 per kilo.

More than 1,000 farmers affiliated to Nuwarawewa, Nachchaduwa, Thissawewa, Padaviya, Wahalkara, Mahakanadarawa, Huruluwsewa, Rajangana and Wilachchiya farmer organisations participated.

President of Anuradhapura District Farmer Organisation Collective Punchirala Ratnayaka said the farmers staged protests in their areas and, as a last resort, gathered in Anuradhapura to stage this massive protest.

“We made continual representations to the Government, the Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Minister to increase the guaranteed price for paddy but to no avail. We are determined to continue our campaign. The government held talks with the rice mill owners and decided on a guaranteed price of Rs.120, but the rice mill owners pay only Rs. 80 per kilo. Although we had a bumper harvest in the Yala season, we are facing hardship for want of a remunerative market for paddy,” he said.