Sri Lanka, Dec. 6 -- Discussions are currently being held with the State banks to obtain loans in order to purchase paddy from local farmers through the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB), the Ministry of Agriculture said.

According to the ministry, although the PMB has made all the necessary arrangements to purchase paddy from the farmers, the process has been delayed due to the unavailability of necessary funds.

The Ministry expects that the discussions with the State banks would be successful and to expedite the paddy purchasing process once the expected loans are received.An officer from the ministry further said that the importation of rice to the country is not the major reason behind the sufferings of the local paddy farmers, but this h...