News
Farmers hit by fertiliser ban, then fuel shortage
View(s):Story and Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Traders arriving at the Norochcholai Economic Centre have decreased due to the current fuel crisis, while farmers suffer due to the lack of fertiliser and fuel.
The traders at Norochcholai Economic Centre reported that the 400 lorries that arrived before the fuel crisis have decreased to less than 50. Meanwhile, farmers are unable to cultivate the 30,000 acres of vegetables and 1,000 acres of fruits in the Kalpitiya Peninsula, due to the lack of diesel and kerosene to power the pumps and the lack of chemical fertiliser and pesticides. In addition, the inability to sell their produce has made the farmers helpless.
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- S Nilantha
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- M A Fajil
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- A Kumara
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- Less buyers at the market
Farmer Sujith Nilantha states “Our vegetables, today, are not distributed on time.” Mr Nilantha, who is also a businessman, adds that diesel arrives only after 10-15 days in Kalpitiya.
A lorry driver, Anura Kumara, who delivers vegetables to Kegalle, explains his distress: “I have to wait for days in queues before leaving for Kegalle. If I have to stay in queues on the way, it would be a waste of time.”
A businessman at the Norochcholai economic Centre and a farmer, M A Fajil said: “We are only asking for the fertiliser and diesel.” He guarantees that if it is provided, the price of a kilogram of vegetables can be decreased by Rs 100. Other farmers at the Norochcholai Economic Centre expressed their discomfort at the overwhelming prices of vegetables.
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