Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security Wasantha Samarasinghe yesterday (14) charged that the current shortage of red rice in the market emerged as a result of mismanagement by previous governments. 

Nevertheless, he assures the public that measures are being taken to address the situation.

“We understand that red rice is a staple for many, especially during the Thai Pongal festival. The shortage has raised concerns, and I want to clarify the reasons behind it,” Samarasinghe said.

“In 2024, a total of 277,315 hectares were cultivated across the Yala and Maha seasons, yielding 1.1 million metric tonnes (MT) of paddy. However, due to the poor management of resources and distribution by previous administrations, there is a noticeable scarcity now,” the Minister alleged. 

The Maha season of 2024 saw a cultivation area of 277,000 hectares, producing approximately 706,000 MT of paddy, while the Yala season contributed 403,097 MT from a similar cultivated area. Despite these figures, the Minister highlighted that inefficient distribution policies have left the market short of red rice.

However, Minister Samarasinghe expressed confidence about the upcoming Maha season in 2025, where 161,067 hectares have already been cultivated, with an expected yield of 648,200 MT. “There is no reason for a shortage in 2025,” he emphasised.