Cabinet has granted approval to increase the quantity of paddy purchased by the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) from each farmer to 5,000kg.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had presented the proposal to increase the maximum quantity of paddy purchase from a farmer via the PMB up to 5,000 kg, at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday.
Amaraweera said the PMB currently purchases up to 3,000 kg from each farmer.A kilogramme of Nadu will be purchased at a certified price of Rs. 38, while a kilogramme of Samba will be purchased at Rs. 41.
“Traders in the private sector are purchasing paddy at prices around Rs 10 more than the Paddy Marketing Board. So the paddy farmers will be able to make higher profits this harvest season,” the Minister said.