By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
Vegetable farmers are up in arms against the Government for its failure to purchase the harvest from their farmlands during the pandemic situation.
Speaking to The Morning, All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation (ACFF) President Namal Karunaratne said the production was at the farmlands and the farmers were scared to take the risk of bringing down their harvest once again to the market as their harvest was wasted twice due to the curfew imposed.
“If there is a mechanism to supply the harvest from farmlands to the markets there won’t be any shortage and prices will also go down,” he stressed.
The vegetable farmers were severely affected by the recent Covid-19-related curfew and had incurred a loss of millions of rupees due to the Government's irresponsibility when imposing the curfew without announcing the decision in advance.
The ACFF alleged that the Government had so far failed to implement a proper mechanism to regulate the vegetable supply, especially during the Covid-19 situation which has prevailed for almost a year.
"The Government should intervene with the supply chain without letting the middlemen get the advantage of the situation,” he stressed.
Nevertheless, it is stated that the vegetable prices are still high in local markets.
The vegetable farmers were severely affected by the recent Covid-19-related curfew and had incurred a loss of millions of rupees due to the Government's irresponsibility when imposing the curfew without announcing the decision in advance.
The ACFF alleged that the Government had so far failed to implement a proper mechanism to regulate the vegetable supply, especially during the Covid-19 situation which has prevailed for almost a year.
"The Government should intervene with the supply chain without letting the middlemen get the advantage of the situation,” he stressed.
Nevertheless, it is stated that the vegetable prices are still high in local markets.