Govt.imposes ban on turmeric imports to safeguard local farmers: Johnston

8 September 2020 06:25 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has advised the relevant government officers that Sri Lanka should meet its turmeric demand locally, Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip Johnston Fernando said yesterday.

Minister Fernando said the government has imposed a ban on importing turmeric in order to safeguard the local farmers.

“Prices of turmeric range from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 a kilo currently. The President had advised the relevant officers that Sri Lanka should produce turmeric locally without relying on importation. Some question us as to why the government does not import turmeric and end the shortage. If we allow it the importers will bring down large consignments and stock them. They will release the stocks during the harvest time. This situation discourages the local growers. This makes the local industry to fall,” the Minister said.

“Government intends developing 100,000 kms of road and to construct a few new expressways. These could be used to take the local produce to the market. We will introduce stable prices for agricultural products. We intend to curtail imports and produce essential goods locally. Our intention is to make Sri Lanka self sufficient in essential food items,” he added.

“It will be possible to reduce the expenditure incurred for importation of wheat flour and produce maize as a substitute crop,” he also said.

On a different note Mr. Fernando said the government has already taken steps to change the interest rates in order to help those who live on bank interests such as senior citizens. (Yohan Perera)

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Comments - 10

Leonard Tuesday, 08 September 2020 08:04 AM

If the Government has a problem with private importers, then the simple solution is for Sathosa to import turmeric to meet the present shotfall until we become self- sufficient locally.

REEZ Tuesday, 08 September 2020 09:52 AM

Very good Idea

Dhaya Tuesday, 08 September 2020 08:20 AM

This is an excellent move as far as we don't go to 1970 situation. Let's try to balance and ensure self-sufficiency.

lal Tuesday, 08 September 2020 09:05 AM

Why worry about Turmeric when gold prices are likely to drop with tariff concessions.

Chux Tuesday, 08 September 2020 09:46 AM

If the government wants to cultivate tummeric best thing is give the lands to the private sector up to now there is land policy

FF Tuesday, 08 September 2020 09:47 AM

THERE ARE OTHER COMMODITIES ALSO THAT DESERVES TO STOP IMPORTS LIKE CIGARETTES, ETHANOL ETC

Lumbini Tuesday, 08 September 2020 10:29 AM

These are called "policy making on the run"

Mariks Tuesday, 08 September 2020 11:14 AM

Turmeric is an essential ingredient for our cooking. Further it has medical value. I am an octogenarian and use it as a medicine. There is not sufficient local production to ban imports. It must be in stages.I bought 100 gms for Rs.110/- Then it rose to 400/- Now I am unable to get it. Please rethink and allow limited imports. If not there will be smuggling from India

BuffaloaCitizen Tuesday, 08 September 2020 12:08 PM

Bull shit talk, first solve the shortage of turmeric and at the controlled price of 100gms Rs. 70.

Nihal Dharmatileke Tuesday, 08 September 2020 04:12 PM

I’ll planed economics,the darkest era of Sri Lanka is re emerging.Nothing grows from one day to the other.

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Govt.imposes ban on turmeric imports to safeguard local farmers: Johnston

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