by Ifham Nizam
While paddy farmers have decided to request the government to increase the guaranteed prices for paddy, Agrarian Services Minister S. M. Chandrasena was evasive on the issue.
The government would do its utmost for the betterment of the farmers when it comes to paddy prices, he said.
Chandrasena said that he, himself once a farmer and coming from a farming family, understood the plight of the farmers.
He said however that any demand should be reasonable and shouldn’t affect another group. Discussions were underway with regard to the recent demands of the farmers.
Meanwhile, an official said that they were unable to increase the purchasing price of a kilo of paddy since increasing the guaranteed price of paddy would result in the increase in rice prices thereby burdening the consumers.
Earlier this week, farmers decided to inform President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in writing, about their demand for the government to increase its guaranteed prices for paddy.
The All Ceylon Farmers’ Association was expected to hand over the letter, spelling out the demands of the paddy farmers.
According to National organizer of the Association, Namal Karunaratne, farmers had decided to inform their demands to the President while carrying out an awareness campaign among the paddy farming community and agitating for their demands.
He said the letter would demand that the guaranteed price of a kilo of paddy be increased to Rs. 40.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=47090
No comments:
Post a Comment