Like many countries in the world, Sri Lanka is facing a severe economic crisis due to the corona epidemic. But the problems facing farmers today are not yesterday. From time to time they are facing various problems. Every government that has come to power has many plans to solve these problems, but it is not a permanent solution for the farmers. The main problem facing farmers is the unavailability of adequate prices for the paddy they harvest. Although the price of rice in the market starts from Rs.80 to Rs.200, it is bought from farmers for around Rs.30 or Rs.40. What is the reason for this situation? Even if people buy a kilo of rice for Rs.80, as well as a kilo of rice for Rs.200, so the farmer does not get a fair price for his paddy. So in the midst of all this, to whom does that massive profit go?

In our country, many large-scale paddy mill owners make billions of rupees by harassing farmers and consumers. It is these mafias that are hoarding rice in the country and creating shortages, causing inconvenience to everyone in the country.

Particular years ago there were mostly small paddy mill owners across the country who always bought paddy from farmers at a reasonable price and sold it as rice to customers at a reasonable price. There was a business ethic among the plant owners in those days, but these mafias succeeded in systematically destroying small plant owners to hoard rice from farmers across the country. Due to this, the price of rice has skyrocketed today.

It is said that the reason for the increase in rice prices among the people is the shortage of paddy in the country. Is this a filtered lie? There is no such shortage of paddy in the country. But the truth is that there is more paddy in the country than is needed, and knowing this, the mafias are making huge profits by spreading false news that there is a shortage of paddy in the country. The average amount of rice required by the people in our country is 95,000 MT per month. We need only 2.4 million metric tons of rice per year. However, in the Yala and Maha seasons last year, 5 million metric tonnes of paddy was available, which will be converted into 3 million metric tonnes of rice. So, when there is an excess of metric tonnes of paddy in the country, shouldn't we teach a lesson to these mafias who make a profit of Rs. 30 per kg of paddy if they do not use it properly? Of course, they need to be taught a good lesson or their fraud can never be stopped .......

Our current government has set a control price of Rs. Despite attempts to buy paddy from 50 farmers, the government was able to purchase only a limited amount of produce. The main reason for this is that there are not enough storage facilities. There are 307 paddy storage facilities in 21 districts of the country, which can store only 140,000 metric tonnes of rice. Moreover, the absence of paddy drying machines in the Paddy Marketing Board has created a backdrop for the rice mafias to spread their monopoly. Realizing the shortcomings of the Paddy Marketing Board, these mafias buy paddy for Rs. 30-40, regardless of the control price of paddy and rice. What is the solution to such a situation? Should rice mills be nationalized? There is no dictatorial regime in Sri Lanka to do so. Therefore, as a solution to this, the government is already taking steps to create the necessary storage facilities and import the required machinery. Why should we allow these few mafias to hoard rice only to make money?

The government has decided to import 100,000 metric tonnes of rice as an immediate solution considering the delay in purchasing storage facilities and machinery. Now some members of the opposition have started a fake drama with this. And it is useless for some opposition MPs to spread fake news to embarrass the people of the country by inciting the rice mafia. The government took steps to import 100,000 tonnes of rice only after selling all the paddy products owned by farmers in the country. Now that rice has been imported it will help the government to reduce the price of rice in the market to some extent and will also be the perfect response to the rice mafia that hoards and sells rice at high prices.

That is why we first bought a kilo of paddy from farmers for Rs. 30-40 and paid Rs. Were among these massive scams selling for 190-195 We have to get rid of it.