News
Unwanted veggie bounty once again causes price drop
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Unplanned vegetable cultivation has once again led to a large harvest and drop in prices. And much goes to waste as a result.
The manager of a dedicated economic centre, a chairman of a merchants association, as well as farmers, say there is no way of knowing how much needs to be grown despite the many state institutes that do market surveys.
Farmers complain that there is no national plan for crop cultivation.
Farmers complain that there is no national plan for crop cultivation. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
The chairman of the All Island Dedicated Economic Centres and Manning Market Traders Association, Aruna Shantha Hettiarchchi said vegetable farmers either produce too much, or too little.
There is a greater supply at the Nuwara Eliya Dedicated Economic Centres and sales have dropped at the moment.
Mr Hettiarachchi explained that the Government’s failure to prepare a national cultivation plan and distribute seeds accordingly have led to abnormal harvests. The Government provides high-yielding hybrid seeds which produce a harvest three times more than the usual in a brief period.
The manager of the dedicated economic centre at Dambulla, Christy Wijeratne said large quantities of vegetables have reached the markets, but traders are buying only small amounts. This scenario has been observed in late January every year when the Maha season harvest is brought to market.
Mr Wijeratne said in recent weeks, the price of vegetables fell further as vendors who buy in bulk cut down their purchases due to the rain.
“Even though the prices dropped, consumers are only buying the usual amount,’’ he said.
Farmers say they had not been advised by state institutions on how much should be grown. Most farmers are merely guided by the prevailing prices and are not aware of supply in the market.
Vegetable farmer Sandaya Rajan told the Sunday Times that the Government should consider the specific environmental conditions in distributing suitable seeds. Parliamentarians and ministry officials should talk with farmers and learn what should be cultivated in specific areas.
If the Government encourages cultivation of certain types of vegetables in specific areas and calculates the expected harvest and the time, this could help achieve a year long supply, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI) Senior research officer Duminda Priyadarshana said, adding that prices of vegetables will further drop.
The Maha season vegetable harvest was collected from late January to April, while vegetables from the central hills were delivered to the dedicated economic centres from late February onwards.
“Today farmers are armed with knowledge, as we educated Govi Jana Sewa officers and also publish our details online,’’ Mr. Priyadarshana said.
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