Sri Lanka, Sept. 6 -- The Paddy Marketing Board has announced that it has purchased more than 40,000 metric tonnes of paddy under the government's procurement programme.

PMB Chairman Manjula Pinnalanda stated that the highest volume of paddy was procured from the Ampara district, where 85% of the harvesting has already been completed.

Procurement activities are also continuing in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts.

The government allocated Rs. 60 billion for the first phase of the programme, with the Chairman confirming that Rs. 55 billion has already been paid to farmers.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hiru News....