Rice Mill Owners agree to purchase paddy at government prices

COLOMBO (News 1st): All Rice Mill Owners in the country have agreed to purchase paddy at the government's guaranteed prices at a discussion headed by Minister of Trade and Minister of Agriculture, held at the Agriculture Ministry premises. Minister of Trade Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Agriculture Mahindanda Aluthgamage and Large-Scale Rice Mill Owners as well as Small and Medium Scale Rice Mill Owners, attended the meeting. In the event any farmer is not paid the guaranteed price for the paddy stocks, the Paddy Marketing Board at the Agriculture Ministry, has made the necessary arrangements to purchase paddy from all the farmers across the country, Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardena emphasized. "Stocks can be collected, farmers can store their produce, rice mill owners can store the required stocks for the manufacturing process. However, if any other third party attempts to purchase and store paddy stocks, laws will be drafted to confiscate all such stocks," he further stressed.