Lal Kantha justifies new criteria for big onion purchase

29 October 2025 09:21 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 7 Bookmark

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Colombo, Oct. 29 (Daily Mirror) - In the wake of controversy surrounding the government's move to purchase big onions under several criteria, Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha said today the government has to maintain certain standards when purchasing produces like big onions.

The Minister told reporters that Sathosa has to focus on quality when purchasing big onions as the stocks purchased by them have to be supplied to super markets and other outlets.

"We need to purchase them with some quality. Sathosa has to sell them to customers in return," he said responding to a question on introducing new criteria for big onion purchase.

Several parties, including farmer organisations, have criticized the criteria introduced by the government for purchasing big onions which included that the onions must have a diameter between 35mm and 65mm.

Comments - 7

FARMERS SHOULD GUARD THEIR CROPS DAY AND NIGHT Wednesday, 29 October 2025 09:59 PM

FARMERS MUST ENSURE THEY PLANT THEIR ONION CROPS AT THE CORRECT TIME, GOOD QUALITY SEEDS AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR CROPS IN ORDER TO GET GOOD A GOOD HARVEST. IF POOR QUALITY SEEDS ARE SOWN THEN A POOR CROPS ARE EXPECTED. WHEN QUANTITY IS HARVESTED SALE PRICE SHOULD BE LOW IN ORDER TO MAKE A PROFIT OR ELSE THE PEOPLE WILL USUALLY GO FOR THE CHEAP PRICE DUE TO COST OF LIVING.

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IndiMind Thursday, 30 October 2025 12:24 AM

Why can't these farmers organize themselves and invest in places for them to sell the product directly to consumers? Everybody wants government's help, which at the moment is overwhelmed by trying to set the wrongs right made by previous regimes. If they go private with their business they can contribute to the economy while prospering themselves. Along with that, they'd be able to enjoy a sense of pride of what they do.

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Ram P Thursday, 30 October 2025 04:12 AM

Depending on the size and the quality of the onion/s they may be wanting to grade them. This is common in the world in relation to many consumer items

1 11

Lol Thursday, 30 October 2025 04:33 AM

Big shot now!!

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Kumara Ilangasinghe Thursday, 30 October 2025 07:23 AM

I agree with the Minister. Big Onions should be BIG and not the rubbish on the market shelves these day.

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Nelson Thursday, 30 October 2025 07:50 AM

There has to be a certain quality standard that has to be achieved by farmers if they want to sell to any buyer. Just because its the Govt that buys their produce that standard cant be ignored. That is the way to counter better quality imported onions. SL products can easily to be better than imports if we focus on quality.

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Jen Thursday, 30 October 2025 01:38 PM

Dept. of Agriculture need to educate the farmers on proper onion cultivation methods. If production shortfall is faced in India, exports are curbed and we, instead of sourcing from other countries should be ready with our own stock. Lal Kantha should not become another Lalith Athulathmudali, who deliberately allowed onion imports, the moment small onion harvest from Jaffna came to the market!

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