(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to set a maximum retail price for Nadu and Samba rice with effect from the 1st of April, Minister of Agriculture P. Harrison announced yesterday.
Meeting with the farmer associations today in Anuradhapura Minister Harrison said a maximum price of 80 rupees for a kilogram of Nadu rice and 85 rupees for a kilogram of Samba rice has been introduced and the new prices would be implemented from the 1st of April.
The Minister held discussions with the farmer associations and large and small scale rice mill owners on the system to purchase paddy for a guaranteed price from the farmers. Views have been expressed that the public should be allowed to buy paddy at a guaranteed price.
Minister Harrison said all parties consented that a maximum price should be imposed and therefore an agreement was reached over the matter.
He said decision to impose a maximum retail price on rice will accordingly be gazetted in the near future.
