The Ministry of Agriculture says animal product manufacturers have consented to purchasing a kilogram of maize at Rs.160.
A discussion was held between Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera and animal product manufacturers today (22) pertaining to the purchase of maize grown by farmers during the maha season.
Prior to the 2022/23 season, the manufacturers had vowed to purchase maize at Rs.160 per kilogram in order to encourage farmers to grow maize.
However, farmers had claimed that they still not receiving the expected income and therefore after taking all facts into account, Minister Amaraweera emphasised that in order for farmers to benefit a high price must be paid for their products.
During the current maha, 65,000 hectares of maize was planted and the expected yield is at 135,000MT while 130,000 hectares will be cultivated during both the yala and maha seasons in 2023 with the expected yield at 300,000MT.
The annual requirement of maize in the country is 500,000MT.
The animal product manufacturers stated that maize grown in Sri Lanka is high in quality for animal feed.
