Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2021-01-04

Paddy purchasing programme during 2020/21 Maha Season

- Arrangements have been made by the the Paddy Marketing Board to purchase paddy at a guaranteed price to minimize the unexpected fall in prices for paddy, since the harvest for the 2020/21 Maha Season is scheduled to begin from the second week of January. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Minister of Agriculture to implement the Paddy Purchasing Programme during 2020/21 Maha season as follows, was approved by the Cabinet.

• To purchase a kilogram of standard Nadu paddy with 14% moisture at Rs. 50.00 per kg and paddy with 14%-22% moisture at Rs. 44.00 per kg.

• To purchase a kilogram of standard Samba paddy with 14% moisture at Rs. 52.00 per kg and paddy with 14% -22% moisture at Rs. 46.00 per kg.

• To purchase paddy by the Paddy Marketing Board from farmers in minor and major irrigation who receive fertilizer subsidy, according to the cultivation extent; 1000 kg from farmers with at least 1-1.5 hectare and 1500 kg from farmers with more than 1.5 and up to 2 hectare.