The harvesting of the Keeri Samba paddy cultivation project started yesterday (20) on 500 acres of paddy fields by the Paddy Marketing Board as a regulatory project in Hambantota district.
The harvesting program started with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, was carried out at the Aluthwewa paddy field in Agunakolapalassa.
Due to the shortage of keeri samba seed paddy in the 2023 maha season, there was a shortage of keeri samba rice in the past. Due to this, the price of one kilogram of Keeri Samba rice also exceeded 350 rupees. The government also fixed a control price of Rs 260 for Keeri Samba rice. Although the prices of other rice in the market were at a low level, due to the increase in the price of Keeri Samba rice, this project was started with the aim of increasing the production of Keeri Samba seed paddy.
The Paddy Marketing Board initiated this project and took steps to provide 300 farmers free of cost, Seed paddy and other agricultural inputs to cultivate 500 acres using the financial allocation of the Farmers’ Trust Fund.
Accordingly, the cultivation of 500 acres of kiri samba paddy cultivation has been very successful so far. Keeri samba is not cultivated in Hambantota district so far and for the first time it was cultivated in 100 acres in the last maha season and it was possible to get a high yield.
The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the chairman of the Paddy Marketing Board, Mr. Buddhika Iddamalgoda, to make arrangements to purchase the entire 500 acres of paddy harvested by the Paddy Marketing Board.
Accordingly, the wholesale purchase of paddy at the price of 130 rupees, which is the government price for Keeri Samba, is to be started in the next few days. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, who expressed his opinion, emphasized that due to the lack of kiri samba in the country, he has taken steps to grow more keeri samba in this year’s yala season.
He said that the price of a kilo of Keeri Samba rice, which was 360 rupees, has now reduced to 260 rupees, and under the government’s control price for Keeri Samba, it will be possible to buy Kiri Samba rice without shortage in the future.
Most people in our country prefer to consume keeri samba rice. In the past, the price of keeri samba remained high. This is why we have taken steps to grow more of them. This yearlot of hectares of keri samba have been cultivated. Now Keeri Samba rice prices are gradually coming down.
Also, in the next maha season, 2000 acres of keeri samba cultivation will be expanded in Hambantota district. This time, the government’s order for purchasing paddy is to purchase paddy by small and medium rice mill owners. For that purpose, the government gives them a loan of 25 to 50 million rupees.
The Paddy Marketing Board also buys paddy with their money without borrowing money. Because of this, we were able to make the PMB profitable in the last two crop seasons. The Minister also said that this time, the Paddy Marketing Board is working to buy a certain amount of paddy with their money.
