Excise Commissioner ordered to issue gazette banning use of maize for ethanol and alcohol production
30 December 2020 09:14 am
- President orders officials to ensure fair price for farmers’ produce in upcoming harvesting season
- Banks instructed to identify entrepreneurs and maintain inventory info related to loan amount
- Need to ensure wider market for turmeric, maize, cowpea, undu etc stressed
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed the Commissioner of Excise, M.G. Gunasiri to issue a gazette notification banning the use of maize for the production of alcohol and ethanol, the President Media Division (PMD) announced.
Gunasiri is expected to issue a gazette notification shortly banning the use of maize for the production of alcohol and ethanol based on instructions issued by the Presidential Secretariat.
It was reported that Fall Armyworm caterpillar (Sena) reported to be causing significant damage to maize crops in many areas of the country.
The President also instructed officials to be vigilant to prevent damage caused by insects such as Army Worm caterpillars to food crops.
The government has banned the importation of ethanol since beginning of this year. In order to ensure a fair price for the produce of farmers in the upcoming harvest season, the President directed the subject Minister and the officials to intervene to stop irregularities perpetrated in purchasing of crops including turmeric and maize from farmers.
In particular, he pointed out that the government should intervene to stop stockpiling by traders. He emphasized the need to ensure a wider market for turmeric, maize as well as cowpea, undu, green gram, sesame and sorghum, instead of granting loan facilities to grain collectors.
Therefore, he urged District Secretaries, Divisional Secretaries, Commissioners of Agrarian Services and all field officers to purchase agricultural produce in order to strengthen the farming community.
The PMD stated that banks have been instructed to identify entrepreneurs and maintain inventory information commensurate with the loan amount.
The President had also stressed that the Central Bank should focus on scrutinizing its activities on providing development financing.
Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa ordered to destroy stocks of turmeric illegally imported to the country.
“The Director General of Customs and the Inspector General of Police have been instructed to strictly enforce the law against unscrupulous businessmen,” PMD noted.