The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has purchased 33,666 metric tonnes of paddy under its ongoing procurement programme, PMB Chairman Manjula Pinnalanda stated.

The highest volumes have been purchased from Ampara and Batticaloa districts, while harvesting has begun in Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala and Puttalam.

The PMB is currently operating around 120 warehouses for paddy purchases and storage.