Mill owners ready to purchase paddy at Govt.-announced price: Trade Minister

All rice mill owners have agreed in principle to purchase paddy at the Government’s guaranteed prices, with discussions continuing on measures needed to support the programme, Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security and Cooperative Development, Wasantha Samarasinghe said. Speaking to the media after a meeting with rice mill owners, Samarasinghe said the discussions focused on the practical issues involved in purchasing Nadu paddy at Rs. 120 per kilogram, Samba at Rs. 130 and Keeri Samba at Rs. 140. “All the mill owners are ready to work together with the Government and purchase paddy at the guaranteed prices. If we can successfully implement this programme, they have also agreed to reduce rice prices,” the Minister said. He said mill owners had submitted several proposals during the discussions, which would be reviewed at a follow-up meeting in two weeks. Among the requests made by mill owners were an extension of the pledge loan scheme by one year, additional credit facilities using stored paddy as collateral, and permission to use private warehouses to support the Government’s paddy purchasing programme. Samarasinghe said mill owners had indicated they were willing to buy Nadu paddy at Rs. 120 per kilogram provided the moisture content does not exceed 14%. “The discussions have made good progress. We believe we will be able to consider these proposals, provide the necessary support and commence purchasing paddy at Rs. 120 per kilogram,” he said. (Newswire)