Sri Lanka, July 14 -- Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne announced that the government has launched a new program involving intermediaries to purchase wet paddy, as the Yala season harvest begins in several districts.

Despite this initiative, farmers continue to voice concerns that the government's guaranteed prices are far too low, urging authorities to increase the rate to at least Rs. 140 per kilo to match rising production costs.

The Paddy Marketing Board has allocated Rs. 600 million this year for paddy procurement, and prices have been set at Rs. 120 per kilogram for Nadu, Rs. 125 for Samba, and Rs. 132 for Keeri Samba, in accordance with the price regulations for the 2024-2025 monsoon season.

Harvesting is currentl...