The Paddy Marketing Board has acquired 33,666 metric tons of paddy since launching its procurement programme in mid-June, with highest volumes coming from eastern districts as harvesting expands to other regions.
The Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) has accumulated 33,666 metric tons of paddy through its active purchasing programme, according to PMB Chairman Manjula Pinnalanda. The procurement initiative, which commenced on June 13, began with harvesting already completed in several areas across the country.
The eastern districts of Ampara and Batticaloa have emerged as the primary sources for the board's paddy acquisitions. As harvesting activity winds down in these regions, the focus has shifted to other parts of the country where the season is progressing at a later stage. Harvesting operations have recently begun in the central and northwestern districts of Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, and Puttalam.
In preparation for increased volumes from these newly active areas, the PMB has established storage infrastructure in these districts to ensure efficient collection and preservation of paddy. The board currently maintains approximately 120 warehouses nationwide that serve dual functions as purchasing centers and storage facilities for the harvested grain. This expansion of storage capacity appears designed to accommodate the anticipated surge in paddy supplies as harvesting progresses across different regions.
