Vegetable farmers in a quandary as Govt keeps economic centres open

Farmers who brought their produce to the Dambulla Economic Centre today (24) after being told that it would remain open during curfew were plunged into despair as buyers did not turn up to purchase their produce. 

President of the Dambulla Economic Centre Traders' Association Channa Arawwala stated that farmers brought between 3.5 to 5 million kilograms of vegetables were brought to the centre by this morning, but added that less than 500 kilograms were sold. 

Farmers who brought their produce to the economic centre stated that they did so after the Government announced that the centre would remain open during curfew. However, they pointed out that since most areas of the country are under curfew, buyers did not show up to purchase the produce. 

They added that had the Government taken a decision to keep the economic centre during the curfew, they would not have suffered such colossal losses. They also noted that farmers who were bringing the produce as well as businessmen who come to purchase the produce were being placed at risk of infection by keeping the economic centre open. 

Most vegetable farmers who brought their produce said that keeping economic centres open during curfew they had to bear the expense of harvesting the crops and transporting them, in addition to the constant risk of being exposed to the virus. 

Most farmers and traders insisted that the centre should be closed for the entire duration of the curfew. 

Text and Pix by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa