Anuradhapura, Feb 5 – The Chairman of the Anuradhapura District Irrigation Joint Farmers’ Organization, Punchirala Ratnayake, expressed dissatisfaction today with the price set by the government for paddy. While he acknowledged the government’s effort to establish a fixed price, he emphasized that the rate was not favorable for farmers.
Farmers had initially demanded a price between Rs. 130 and Rs. 140 per kilogram, but they have decided to comply with the government’s price for now, as this marks the first harvest under the current administration. However, Ratnayake urged officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant institutions to visit the fields and observe conditions firsthand before determining future pricing. He warned that without such engagement, similar pricing decisions could be made in subsequent harvests, further disadvantaging farmers.
Ratnayake also criticized Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha for making what he described as a “threatening statement” towards farmer organizations during the paddy price announcement. He reminded the minister that the current government was elected with the support of millions of farmers and should therefore act in their best interests.
He further noted that the minister had accused farmer organizations and political groups of not behaving as expected. In response, Ratnayake emphasized that there are over 19,000 registered farmer organizations in the country, all of which play a crucial role in representing farmers’ rights and concerns.
He called on the government to engage in constructive discussions with farmers to ensure fair pricing policies in the future.
