Govt. to allocate Rs. 29 billion for Maha Season paddy purchases

The Government will allocate over Rs. 29 billion to purchase paddy under the Paddy Purchase Programme for the 2021/2022 Maha Season. 

The Paddy Purchase Programme will be implemented during the 2021/2022 Maha Season with the objective of providing a fair price for the paddy harvest of the farmers and maintaining a secure paddy reserve by the Government, the Government Information Department said. 

The purchase of the paddy harvest is done directly by the Paddy Marketing Board and by the District Secretaries / Government Agents through the small and medium scale paddy mill owners. The required allocation of Rs.29,805 million will be secured through state banks.

Accordingly, Cabinet has taken the following decisions based on a proposal made by the Agriculture Minister. One is to purchase paddy by the Paddy Marketing Board at competitive prices with the Private Sector under the Government Paddy Purchase Program for the Maha Season 2021/2022.

In case, there is a reduction in the paddy harvest in the 2021/2022 Maha season, Cabinet has also agreed to provide a compensation of Rs. 25 per 1 kg of paddy to secure the income level of the paddy farmers affected due to this.