PMB begins purchasing of Yala harvest

By Ifham Nizam

On the instructions of the Agriculture Ministry, the Paddy Marketing Board yesterday began purchasing Yala paddy harvest from farmers.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that necessary steps have been taken to start the purchasing of paddy at a good price this week and a ministerial paper has already been submitted for the approval of the cabinet.

Minister Amaraweera said that the fertilizer distribution program has been very successful. Declaring that “our goal is to cultivate using both organic and chemical fertiliser in the proportion of 70:30. The Department of Agriculture has recommended to cultivate under this formula from the next Maha season.

Yesterday, the second food outlet of the National Food Promotion Board was opened by the Minister at the Hunupitiya Commercial Fertilizer Corporation premises. This outlet was established under the programme of establishing food outlets by the National Food Promotion Board to provide the public with an opportunity to buy food items at an affordable price.

Through this system of outlets established by the National Food Promotion Board, the consumers will be given the opportunity to buy food items at a concessional price, he said.

Producers of food items will also be given the opportunity to sell their products. “Our aim is to make the Ministry of Agriculture a ministry that goes beyond the targeted programmes,” he said.

The Minister also mentioned that the support of all those working under the Ministry of Agriculture should be received in order to achieve that goal.

National Food Promotion Board Chairman Palinda Sagara, Commissioner of the Department of Agricultural Development A. H. M. L. Abeyratne, and the Chairmen of Lanka Fertilizer Company and Commercial Fertilizer Company participated in the event.