Following the Cabinet of Ministers allocating via the Treasury, Rs. 500 million to the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) under the first phase of a programme to purchase paddy from the Yala cultivation season, both farmers and rice mill owners criticised the move, claiming that the prices set by the Government are insufficient.
Speaking to the media yesterday (28), Sri Lanka Small and Middle Scale Rice Mill Owners' Association Chairperson U.K. Semasinghe, expressed his concerns, alleging that the Government's decision is part of an Election campaign strategy.
“This appears to be an attempt by the Government to mislead the public, suggesting that the PMB is offering fair prices to farmers, when in fact the prices are not sufficient,” he claimed. Semasinghe further criticised the Government for failing to consult with the stakeholders before making such decisions.
He argued that this reflects a lack of understanding of the real challenges faced by farmers and rice mill owners. “The authorities could have engaged with the relevant parties to better grasp the ground realities. Instead, they have made a decision that does not truly address the issues,” he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, Maha Wari Govi Sanwidhanaya President Punchirala Ratnayake questioned the timing of the Government's decision. He pointed out that such measures could have been implemented during the last Maha season, rather than just before an election.
“This seems like another election promise. The prices decided by the Government are relatively low, and the farmers are unlikely to benefit from this move,” Ratnayake claimed.
Recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera, had submitted a proposal to provide Rs. 2,000 million to the PMB for the purchase of paddy during the expected Yala season. The PMB had announced that it will commence purchasing paddy from Tuesday (27) onwards. Currently, the market price of paddy is high, with the private sector purchasing it at Rs. 120 per kilogram. However, the Government's intervention through the PMB has raised concerns among stakeholders, who believe that the proposed prices will not adequately support farmers in the long run.