Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2016-03-02

Paddy Purchasing Programme during the Maha Season 2015/16

- Reaping the harvest in the Maha Season 2015/2016 has already commenced and the Paddy Marketing Board has made arrangements to purchase paddy in 19 Districts during this Season, in accordance with the Government's Policy on purchase of paddy. Accordingly, the proposals made by Hon. P. Harrison, the Minister of Rural Economy, to purchase paddy directly from the farmers by the Paddy Marketing Board, under the Paddy purchasing programme of the Government in the Maha Season 2015/2016, to implement the programme in the relevant Districts with the assistance of the District Secretaries/Government Agents, to pay Rs.50/- per kg for 'Keeri samba', Rs. 41/- per kg for 'Samba' and Rs.38/- per kg for 'Nadu' purchased by the Board and purchase paddy from the farmers engaged in the paddy cultivation during the Season, subject to a maximum quantity of 2,000 kg from each, were approved by the Cabinet.