17 January 2024 02:19 pm
SJB MP and Chairman if the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) Dr. Harsha de Silva said lack of transparency in the market and a host of other issues have led to the increase of vegetable prices.
“Stocks of vegetables go through two middlemen right from the growers until they reach the retail market. The one who purchases vegetables from farmers sells it to another buyer and the stocks come to the market through the second buyer. There is no transparency in this process unlike the Colombo Tea auction. There is open bidding in the Colombo tea auction where different prices are quoted till the sale is closed. However the vegetable farmers do not know how much the middlemen earn by reselling their produce. The farmer ends up being the ultimate loser under this process,” Dr. de Silva told a media conference.
“The other issue is the lack of storage facilities to preserve the vegetables, he pointed out, and added, “We, during the Yahapalana government started constructing a modern storage facility in Dambulla. But the government which came into power in 2019 halted this project. We have spoken to the Food Commissioner and he has assured us that the work of the storage facility will be completed this year,” he added.
“In addition, one should look at introducing an online network which includes the farmers. Information on inputs, prices and other information can be passed through this network, thus bringing some transparency into the market,” he also said.