The Minister said so, participating in a debate at the time of adjournment of the House. The adjournment motion was moved by UPFA MP Dinesh Gunawardena.
The Minister categorically stated that the highest stock of paddy will be purchased during this Yala season. The Minister pointed out that the previous regime has bought only 4,563 metric tonnes for 2013/2014 Maha season, spending only Rs. 147 million. But the present government has purchased a paddy harvest of 160,000 mt. by spending Rs. 7,600 million in the 2014-2015 Maha season.
He further said that although the previous government was boastful of developing the country, the agricultural sector decreased from 17 percent of GDP to 10.8 percent of GDP during the period of 2010 to 2013.
"We are focusing on the need to improve paddy, tea and the rubber sectors and providing them incentives and concessions to enhance the cultivation of paddy production too, decreased from 3 percent of GDP to 1.6 percent of GDP during that period.
We started to purchase paddy to control the increased prices. We accept that we need to formulate a proper price formula to control paddy prices. It is our duty to protect the farmers by giving them incentives and concessions. But it is very difficult to give welfare measures as the state revenue which was 22 percent of GDP in 1977, had come down to 10 percent of GDP today. But we try to provide maximum reliefs despite all difficulties, Minister Sajith Premadasa said.
