• Uncertainty looms over Maha harvest and upcoming Yala cultivation, PMB instructed to submit proposal to Cabinet on paddy reserves 

Although there is uncertainty regarding the harvest of the Maha cultivating season as well as the upcoming Yala season, the Ministry of Agriculture stated that the Government is not in possession of any paddy reserves other than 215,672 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy.

This is in the wake of the Ministry instructing the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) to prepare a proposal to inform the Cabinet of Ministers to take further steps regarding the maintenance of paddy reserves in the country.

An official of the Ministry told The Daily Morning that although several parts of the world are currently strengthening their food reserves in fear of an imminent food shortage, the Government of Sri Lanka is not in possession of any such reserve. He said that the PMB is in possession of only 215,672 MT of paddy purchased during the Yala season this year (2023).

While over 50,000 acres of paddy cultivations have already been destroyed due to the prevailing drought, and the said extent is going up on a daily basis (51,055 acres as of Tuesday [22], per the Ministry), he added that there are predictions that a heavy rainfall may occur during October and November, with another dry weather spell during the Yala season next year (2024). Therefore, he said that there is uncertainty regarding the harvest of this year's (2023) Maha season, as well as the upcoming Yala season. 

Considering the matter, he said that subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had instructed the PMB to prepare a proposal to be presented to the Cabinet of Ministers regarding the maintenance of paddy reserves in the country. The relevant proposal is to be prepared with an emphasis on a possible rise in rice prices due to the fact that it is the private sector that is in possession of a larger portion of the paddy and rice stocks at present, and not the Government.

The Minister has also pointed out the need to store the remaining stocks of paddy, if any, that were purchased through District and Divisional Secretaries during the Maha season, and the need for the PMB to continue purchasing paddy in order to maintain Government owned food reserves.