By Farmers Opt for Private Traders Over PMB Due to Better Prices
Despite the government setting a maximum support price for paddy purchases, farmers are choosing to sell their harvest to private traders who offer higher rates, even for paddy with high moisture content.
Regional Manager of the Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) in Hambantota, D. Indika Upendra, confirmed reports that private traders are purchasing paddy at prices exceeding those announced by the government.
The government has fixed the price at Rs. 120 per kilo for the Nadu variety and Rs. 125 per kilo for the Samba variety, provided the moisture levels meet specified requirements. However, farmers in the Ridiyagama scheme and Beregama area, where harvesting has begun, report that private traders are offering Rs. 120 per kilo at the farm gate, even for high-moisture paddy.
Farmers argue that selling to private traders is more convenient, as transactions occur directly at the threshing floor. In contrast, sales to the PMB require farmers to dry and transport their produce to designated storage facilities. Given these logistical challenges, many consider the Rs. 120 per kilo offered by private traders sufficien
