• Group says local harvest is strong and imports will hurt farmers

The National Agrarian Unity (NAU) organisation has accused the Government of using the impact of Cyclone Ditwah as a pretext to import vegetables, despite what it stated is an adequate local supply.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, NAU President Anuradha Thennakoon said that this year’s harvest has been one of the best in recent times, with sufficient vegetable production in major farming areas including Kandy, Bandarawela, Badulla and Matale.

“There is no shortage of vegetables. The wholesale price of a kilo of carrots is around Rs. 300 now. At the same time last year, it was about Rs. 2,000. However, the Government is planning imports by citing an expected shortage during the festive season."

He alleged that the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security is planning vegetable imports for personal gain and that the Ministry of Agriculture is supporting the move. “If this goes ahead, it will eventually collapse local vegetable farming,” he warned.

Vegetable prices saw a spike in several markets following Cyclone Ditwah, with disruptions to transport and supply chains reported in some areas. Traders attributed the increases to temporary logistical issues caused by adverse weather, though prices have since shown signs of stabilising.

Attempts to contact Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe for a response to the allegations were unsuccessful.