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Farmers criticise government on failure to revive agricultural production economy
By Mangala Pavithrani
Colombo,Sep 22.(Daily Mirror) - Chairman of the Farmers' National Agricultural Federation, Anuradha Tennakoon criticised the government for failing to implement programmes to strengthen the country’s agricultural production economy, despite being in power for a year.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tennakoon said the continued imports of food items such as onions, potatoes and garlic—crops that can be successfully grown locally, is leaving farmers helpless and harming the local economy.
He alleged that 96% of the country’s onion requirement is imported and accused the government of not establishing proper programmes to support local onion cultivation in recent months.
"The country was self-sufficient in onions 10 to 15 years ago. It is the government’s responsibility to provide concessional programmes for farmers in the coming seasons,” he said.
Tennakoon also highlighted the issue with potatoes, noting that high local production costs make them expensive, while imported potatoes are sold at lower prices, disadvantaging local farmers.
"Taxes were levied on imported goods after they were imported. This government did something like closing the stable after the horses had left,” he added.
He warned that the government’s failure to reduce production costs for local vegetables is another serious concern.
“This government was appointed to correct and rebuild the collapse of the agricultural production economy caused by previous administrations. If it continues with old habits, the future of the country’s agricultural sector is in jeopardy,” Tennakoon stressed.
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