By Chaminda Silva
Anuradha Thennakon, President of the National Agrarian Unity, has raised concerns over the growing rice shortage in the country, attributing it to the increasing use of raw rice for beer production.Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on Wednesday, Thennakon pointed out that Nadu paddy, traditionally used for regular rice production, is now being diverted to meet the demand of breweries, exacerbating the shortage in the market.
Thennakon urged the government to take immediate action, calling for the revocation of licenses of paddy mill owners supplying rice for alcohol production. He highlighted that farmers receiving government relief are selling their rice to breweries instead of meeting the public’s food needs, which he argued warrants intervention by the Consumer Affairs Authority.
The agrarian leader accused large rice mill owners of hoarding Nadu and Red rice, further contributing to the supply shortage. He also noted that despite government efforts to support farmers with fertilizers and other subsidies, the rice mill owners purchase paddy at low prices, preventing any benefits from reaching consumers or the government.
“If rice varieties are required for alcohol production, alternative measures should be found, but not at the expense of the daily food needs of the people,” Thennakon emphasized, describing the use of rice in brewing as problematic.
Thennakon also expressed concerns about the rising profits of large rice mill owners, with some reportedly earning over Rs. 50 million per month following the government’s imposition of new controlled prices for rice. He called on the government to intervene and curb these unjust profits.
The Small and Medium Scale Rice Mill Owners’ Association has echoed Thennakon’s claims, confirming that the diversion of Nadu paddy for beer production is severely limiting the supply of rice for consumption.
