The government has purchased more than 46,000 metric tonnes of paddy under its ongoing paddy procurement programme, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne said.
Speaking at a media briefing today (31), the Deputy Minister said the government’s paddy purchasing programme is still underway.
He also said the government has now commenced purchasing paddy through rice mills and cooperatives, with state intervention.
The paddy procurement programme for the Yala season commenced on July 13, with the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) opening purchasing centres in areas recording the highest paddy harvests.
The government had earlier announced that it expected to purchase approximately 39,500 metric tonnes of paddy under this year’s procurement programme.
However, the government has since exceeded that target. Meanwhile, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa also said that paddy purchases had surpassed the initially projected target.
