• No buyers, no fair price, and no place to store: Farmers  

• Policy decisions should be made with people in mind: Trader 

• Government has taken measures to address issues: Minister  

 By Yumiko Perera    In the wake of the third wave of Covid-19 plaguing the nation, farmers across the island have been left with no other option but to watch the crops they put their blood, sweat, and tears into waste away.  Adding to their troubles is the travel restrictions and market closure in most parts of the island, due to which farmers have had to resort to throwing away fruits and vegetables, as they have no efficient way to store their produce.  Gune, a vegetable farmer from Kekirawa, laments that even if he manages to take his produce of potatoes, onions, and chillies to the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, he is unable to get a fair price for it.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Gune said: "We take our crops to Dambulla, but we don't receive a fair price. This has been the case for the longest time. On top of that, the pandemic has worsened the situation. The travel restrictions in many areas mean that the farmers don't even have a way to bring their produce to the markets. There is no point in keeping the dedicated economic centres open if farmers don't have a way to bring their produce to the markets."    [caption id="attachment_137719" align="alignright" width="862"] Prices of most vegetable varieties had increased in most dedicated economic centres across the island due to low supply from other districts Source: CBSL  [/caption] Farmers suffer; middlemen benefit   Stating that the intermediaries are reaping the benefits of the farmers' efforts, he said: "After the travel restrictions had been imposed and I couldn't take my produce to the Dambulla Economic Centre, I took some ridged gourd to the Kekirawa town and sold them to retail merchants. While they bought the vegetables from me at Rs. 45 per kilogramme, the retailers had the boards up for the same vegetables with prices up to Rs. 580 per kilogramme.  “The intermediaries are not only ripping off the farmers but the consumers as well. The authorities have always turned a blind eye towards the struggle of the farmers. These are tough times and the farmers are feeling the effect of the situation even more," said Gune.  Pointing out that the farming community is in dire straits with the pandemic on one side and the fertiliser issue on the other, Gune went on to say: "The fertiliser that was available for Rs. 1,050 cannot be found even if we are willing to pay twice as much for it. There is a shortage of fertiliser. Politicians and various other people in power say that fertiliser is available in the country but in reality, fertiliser can't be found anywhere. If there is fertiliser in the country, then why isn't it available in the market?"  Neil, a wholesale trader at the New Manning Market, Peliyagoda, shared: "The Government takes certain policy decisions without thinking about the consequences the common people may have to face. The authorities kept the economic centres open, whilst having the retail shops closed. The farmers send their produce to the economic centres somehow, but there aren't any customers owing to the travel restrictions. So, many vegetables go to waste and at the end of the day, the losses incurred have to be borne by the farmers and the traders."    Potential for food supply shortage   If the situation isn't managed appropriately, Neil emphasises that it could potentially lead to a possible shortage of food supplies in the future as well as a hike in prices when it comes to necessary items.  According to Narahenpita Dedicated Economic Centre Manager Prashan Rajapaksha, stocks of essential items are at the ready in case a possible shortage of essential items occurs.  "There is a significant decrease in the number of people that visit the market, given the present circumstances. With the pandemic, when it comes to the supply of necessary items, we have stocks at hand in case the need arises."  Minister of Trade Bandula Gunawardana, after an inspection tour of the Pettah Wholesale Centre last Saturday (15), stated that the market would be open for sale from Sunday (16) onwards. However, The State Minister of Agriculture, on Friday (21) announced that seven economic centres across the island would remain open for wholesale trade on 24, 25, 27, and 28 May. Economic centres located in Dambulla, Thambutteggama, Nuwara Eliya, Keppetipola, Veyangoda, Meegoda, and Embilipitiya would be open only for wholesale trade for farmers as well as those engaged in the distribution process.     Owing to the present situation, it had been decided that all dedicated economic centres islandwide would remain closed from 21-24 May and 26-28 May, citing government-imposed travel restrictions.      Solution not sufficient   However, farmers would be allowed to transport their produce to the economic centres on 24 May.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Minister Gunawardana stated: "We understand the hardships of the farmers. We have allowed them to transport their produce under essential services and price controls measures have been put in place to assure that they get the best price for their produce."  Although the Government has approved the transport of vegetables and other necessary items regardless of travel restrictions, the problem simply does not end at that.  While it is evident if the situation isn't brought under control soon, it would ultimately result in a lose-lose situation for everyone, be it consumers, farmers, traders, and the myriad others in the supply chain, the grievances of farmers like Gune undoubtedly calls for restructuring in the mechanism in place at present.