The Paddy Marketing Board says there is a bigger harvest than expected for the Maha season.
Speaking during a media briefing at the Department of Government Information Vice Chairman of the Board Duminda Priyadharshana said the 2021/22 Maha season commenced while facing several challenges.
He noted based on data from the Department of Agriculture over 70 percent of the expected harvest has been reaped thus far.
Priyadharshana added the Cabinet of Ministers informed to secure a safety stock of paddy with the competitive prices that were announced.
He said a transportation cost of Rs.2 per kilogram will be provided to farmers who bring paddy to centres of the Paddy Marketing Board.
He added for the last harvesting season farmers were given Rs.1.50 for transport.
He noted due to the mechanism farmers are encouraged to handover paddy to the Paddy Marketing Board.
Duminda Priyadarshana said they expect to receive 2.3 million metric tons of paddy this year.
Priyadarshana claimed therefore there is no possibility of an unusual increase in the price of rice or a shortage of rice this year.
He said according to the Crop Forecast Report issued by the Department of Agriculture 800,000 hectares of land was used for farming adding generally 3-3.2 million metric tons of paddy can be expected.
He said however due to the limitation of farming using organic fertiliser only 70 percent of crops have been forecasted.
Priyadarshana said the 2.3 million metric tons of paddy is sufficient for six to seven months of the local rice demand.
