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Paddy harvest drops, rice prices rise
An estimated 35 per cent drop in the paddy harvest expected in the current season is showing an upward trend in the prices of rice, Agriculture Ministry Secretary, R.M.D.B. Meegasmulla said yesterday. He said the prevailing drought conditions had affected the harvest in some of the main paddy growing districts including, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Ampara.
With the prolonged drought affecting the paddy harvest, farmers in many areas have switched to alternate crops. Farmers in this one-time paddy field in Anuradhapura are seen checking on their banana cultivation. Pic by Indika Handuwala.
“We have enough paddy stocks for a few months, but as the market is controlled by private rice mill owners there may be price fluctuations,” Mr. Meegasmulla said.
The Ministry Secretary said there had already been a small increase in the prices of rice. However they hope to keep prices under control as the harvesting in Ampara was already under way.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said Sri Lanka might experience a shortage of rice if the harvest from the next season also drops drastically.
He said that in view of forecasts that the current drought might continue for some time, instructions had been issued to the affected districts to switch from paddy cultivation to alternate crops.
According to the minister the Irrigation Department will not be able to supply sufficient quantities of water needed for paddy cultivation.Relevant departments in the districts affected have been told to cultivate crops such as green gram, soya beans and kidney beans. The ministry has also decided to give a 50 percent subsidy to buy seeds needed, in an attempt to encourage the farmers to switch to alternate crops.
Some of the district secretariats have advised farmers in their areas to switch to alternate crops for the coming season. Anuradapura District Secretary, Mahinda Seneviratne said farmers had been advised to cultivate alternate crops at least in part of their land if they wish to earn a profit from the next season.
Mr. Abeywardena said the ministry would take steps to ensure the farmers were paid a guaranteed price for their produce.
The minister said there was a good guaranteed price of rupees 80 for a kilogram of soya beans and the ministry would ensure high quality seeds would be provided for the next season that seeds are readily available for the farmers and assured the ministry would ensure the seeds are of high quality to avoid soya crop failure, which occurred last year due to poor quality seeds.