Sri Lanka Prepares to Purchase Yala Season Paddy Starting July 15

The Paddy Marketing Board is set to begin purchasing paddy from the Yala season on July 15th, according to a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat. The announcement comes as harvesting for the Yala season has already commenced.

Presidential Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumaranayake instructed officials from the Ministry of Agriculture to expedite the purchasing process. He directed them to collaborate with Sathosa to clear existing warehouse stocks, ensuring readiness to receive the newly harvested paddy. This proactive measure aims to facilitate a smooth procurement process.

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Clear the paddy stocks in warehouses that currently hold paddy, and prepare to purchase new paddy in collaboration with Sathosa.

This year's Yala season saw approximately 475,000 hectares of paddy fields cultivated. Notably, the cultivation was not significantly impacted by adverse weather conditions, leading to expectations of a successful harvest. The government has allocated 6 billion rupees from the Treasury for paddy purchases during the Yala season. Additionally, state banks have set aside another 10 billion rupees as credit for small and medium-scale mill owners.

Ministry of Agriculture Secretary D.P. Wickramasinghe confirmed that the Paddy Marketing Board is coordinating with District Secretaries to finalize arrangements for the purchases starting mid-July. He also highlighted a shift in the government's approach to mill owners. While previously urging them not to increase paddy prices, the current directive is to prevent price reductions. This change reflects the abundant harvest achieved over the past year and a half, leading to increased supply.

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We had to tell mill owners not to reduce the price of paddy, unlike in 2024 when we had to tell them not to increase it.