Farmers protest handing over of Economic Centres to Private companies

By K.R.Rajamantri

Colombo, March 2 (Daily Mirror) - While registering their protest against the government's move to hand over the Economic Centres to private companies, vegetable farmers say the government which promised to uplift farmers by bringing down the cost of production has taken steps to handover the economic centres to a private company which would not benefit the farmers in any manner.

They pointed out that 18 Economic Centres in several areas were established as an effective mechanism to provide a remunerative market for their produce and to supply vegetables at a reasonable price to consumers. The economic centres were under a management trust comprising the District Secretary of the respective district and the divisional secretaries.

Convener of Welimada –Uva Paranagama Farmer Association R.M.Rohana Ramanayake said in the past the Department of Marketing Development (MARKFED) intervened to provide a remunerative maket for agricultural produced and that the private traders purchased vegetable and other produced at the farms.

“ Economic Centres were established to streamline the market for produce of the vegetable farmers but it could not be realise owing to the middleman system. However the vegetable farmers are in a predicament due to the heavy production cost and for want of a profitable market for their produce. This government when in the opposition launched a massive campaign for the farmers. We trusted them and supported their campaign. However we have been left on the lurch. The government promised to purchase potato for Rs. 250 a kilo ”

“ Vegetable farmers would not be benefited in any manner by handing over the management of Economic Centres to a private company. However potato is imported almost in unlimited quantities and sold for prices between Rs.110 and `120 bringing down the price of local potato for Rs.170. The production cost of per kilo of potato is more than Rs220 and added to it is the cost of transport. We are facing a serious crisis” He further said.

President of Keppetipola Trader Association S.A.R.Bandusena said the government has ignored its promises to the farmers and left them in a predicament. He further said that the proposed handing over of management of Economic Centres to a private company would worsen the situation and that the Trader Association strongly protest against the proposed move.