• Agriculture Dept. expects 2.2 m MT from Yala harvest 

The Government does not expect an unusual increase in rice prices or a shortage this year, but is prepared to import rice immediately if such a situation arises, according to the Deputy Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, R.M. Jayawardena.

From time to time, the Sri Lankan market experiences unusual hikes in rice prices and shortages, particularly due to various tactics allegedly employed by rice mill owners and traders.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on the current state of rice production, Jayawardena said that the Maha cultivating season's harvest was slightly lower than expected. “The Department of Agriculture had projected a harvest of 2.9 million metric tonnes (MT) of paddy, but, it now looks like we’ll receive around 2.5 million MT.”

Despite the shortfall in the main Maha season, he noted that the Yala season has seen more land cultivated than initially planned, due to factors such as favourable rainfall. “If everything goes without any challenging issue in the Yala season, we expect to harvest 2.2 MT,” he added.

Speaking further, Jayawardena said: “Around 3.5 to 3.6 million MT of paddy are required for human consumption each year. We also need about 450,000 MT for animal feed, and around 150,000 to 200,000 MT for other purposes. So, we’re confident that the country can produce the required amount of paddy for the year.”

He also said that there is no justification for an increase in rice prices and noted that the Government would be closely monitoring the market. “We are aware that some rice producers may be engaging in organised efforts to withhold rice from the market. If we see such actions, we will take appropriate action against them. In the meantime, we are also ready to import rice in case of any emergency," he noted.

The people face sudden increases in rice prices and unexpected shortages in the market from time to time, due to certain actions taken by some rice mill owners and traders. They sometimes hold back stocks, create artificial shortages, or delay releasing rice to the market in order to drive up prices and make higher profits.