The Chairman of the Joint Farmers’ Organization, S.K. Mahinda Samarawickrama, voiced concerns over the government’s failure to announce a guaranteed price for paddy, stating that farmers are choosing to sell their crops to private buyers who offer higher rates and more efficient transactions.
“Currently, paddy harvesting is underway in areas like Badagiriya and Walawa. Private mill owners are coming directly to the fields and buying wet paddy at prices ranging between Rs. 150-170 per kilo. Farmers are eager to sell their harvest at these rates since the government is yet to set a fixed price,” Samarawickrama explained.
He noted that private buyers dry the paddy and sell it at Rs. 290-300 per kilo, making significant profits while offering farmers immediate payments. In contrast, the government procurement process is riddled with inefficiencies. Farmers are required to dry their paddy before delivering it to government warehouses, wait in long queues, and endure delays in receiving payments.
“Why would farmers go through the hassle of dealing with government warehouses when private buyers come to their fields, buy wet paddy on the spot, and pay promptly? Farmers save both time and money by selling to the private sector,” he said.
Samarawickrama criticized the government for failing to deliver on promises made before coming to power. He argued that farmers, who are often in debt during harvest season, need immediate financial relief, which the private sector provides but the government does not.
A recent meeting of the Agriculture Committee at the Hambantota District Secretariat discussed the matter, with officials stating that a guaranteed price for paddy would be announced “soon.” However, Samarawickrama dismissed this as too little, too late, pointing out that private buyers would have already purchased the majority of the harvest by then.
He also highlighted the limitations of the government’s procurement scheme, which only buys a small quantity of paddy from each farmer, forcing them to rely on private mill owners for the rest. “If the government is serious about supporting farmers, they need to act immediately. Otherwise, farmers will continue to sell exclusively to private buyers. We will not give the government even a single grain of paddy if this situation persists,” he warned.
Samarawickrama urged the government to streamline its purchasing process, ensure fair pricing, and address the challenges faced by farmers to avoid losing their trust and cooperation.
