3 June 2021 02:11 pm
The President yesterday told the Government officials to purchase crops from farmers and to distribute them free of charge among the needy, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
While addressing a media briefing at the Environment Ministry yesterday, he said the President advised distributing of the purchased crops free of charge to the general public, health and security forces personnel who currently committed themselves in the battle against COVID pandemic.
“The farmers who are finding it difficult to sell their crops grown promptly. With the current pandemic situation, the government has imposed countrywide travel restrictions where buyers are unable to come to purchase the crops. Some vegetable varieties need to be harvested every two to three days. Otherwise, they will ripen on the trees themselves and now many farmers are suffering without being abke to sell their yield," he said.
Therefore, a programme was initiated to harvest fruits and vegetables grown in many parts of the country. Considering all facts, the President instructed the relevant authorities to initiate a system in this regard, Minister Amaraweera said.
Once the system is in place, the farmers will be allowed to sell their harvest under through this system, the Minister said. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)