Sri Lanka, Feb. 3 -- Representatives of farmers' organizations have warned they will launch protests if the government fails to announce a guaranteed price for paddy soon.

Despite the government's promise to support farmers, they claim no solutions have been provided for their ongoing issues. Paddy harvesting for the 2024 Maha season has already begun in the Eastern Province and parts of the North Central Province, with some farmers forced to harvest early due to rain damage.

However, the absence of a guaranteed price has left farmers in financial distress. Minister of Trade, Commerce, Food Security, and Cooperative Development Wasantha Samarasinghe stated that harvesting has not yet begun properly in the main paddy-producing districts....