Pushing Covid-19 hit farmers from frying pan into fire; the government has suspended the programee of purchasing vegetables directly from cultivators with effect from Friday 11.
Accordingly Dambulla Economic Centre has been kept closed during the last two days and a large number of Lorries carrying vegetable stocks were seen long ques near the government stipulated purchasing centres in Dambulla area to sell their produce t any price, eye witnesses said.
In a public announcement, the government stated that it will be purchasing stocks of vegetables directly from farmers at
Dambulla Gamudawa Playground, Dambulla Old Weekly Fair, Temple Car Park, Pelwehera Government Farm, Galewela Grounds, Dewahuwa Agrarian Service Center, Laggala Agrarian Service Center, Wheelgamuwa Agrarian Services Center and Naula Alugolla Agrarian Services Center whole day.
But farmers’ whocame in Lorries to sell their produce yesterday had to leave empty pocket as the government has directed the Dambulla Divisionl Secretary PIyal Jayasuriya to suspend the purchasing of vegetables until further notice.
However disheartened farmers have converging on Damabulla town as they have no way to sell their produce due to the goverenment’s adhoc decisions, residents said.
The government has decided to purchase all vegetable stocks of local vegetable farmers in Dambulla, Galewela, Naula, Laggala and Wilgamuwa areas from Friday (11), the Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs, Janaka Bandara Tennakoon said.
Accordingly, the purchase of vegetables at special prices will be done through the Divisional Secretariats, the Minister said.
He also said that the government has implemented a programme to distribute the purchased vegetables to the needy areas through Divisional Secretariats.
The Minister pointed out that the economic centers were to prevent the people from contracting the coronavirus.
But the traders, who suggested shutting down the economic centers, disregarding the safety measures, started a process of purchasing vegetables from farmers at very low prices and selling them at higher prices at various locations in the town.
(LI)