Tax to be imposed on imported potatoes

12 February 2023 10:00 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 9 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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The Agriculture Ministry has decide to impose a tax on imported potatoes instead of banning it completely.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said the decision was taken to discourage the importation of potatoes from foreign countries at a time of local potato harvest with the aim of protecting the farmers who grow potatoes in this country as well as the local potato cultivation.

He requested the ministey Secretary to send a letter to the Finance Ministry Secretary requesting to impose a tax on imported potatoes instead of banning it.

"Every time the local potato harvest was harvested, the farmers were forced to abandon local potato cultivation due to the importation of potatoes by every government. It is the government's responsibility to protect the farmers who grow potatoes in this country by investing a lot of money," Minister Amaraweera said.

He said that he will take steps to present matters to the President in this regard in the Cabinet meeting to be held tomorrow (13).

Under the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project, the production of seed potatoes in Sri Lanka has been increased to nine million seed potatoes annually. At present, about one hundred acres of seed potato cultivation is being done in Boralanda area and for this purpose, the minister advised to find more land in that area and encourage the farmers to expand seed potato cultivation. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)

Comments - 9

Poor consumer Sunday, 12 February 2023 11:28 AM

Before impose tax one must make sure that local potato is sold at affordable price…imported potato is half the price of local potatoes…

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Mohan Sunday, 12 February 2023 11:32 AM

How come the imported potatoes are so cheap (Rs 150 per kilo) even after sea freight, while local potatoes are too expensive (450 Rs. Per kilo)?

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Patriotic Sunday, 12 February 2023 12:54 PM

Local potatoes are much costlier than imported potatoes, does the ministry knows this? Control the prices of local potatoes than ban imports potatoes instead of increasing duty.

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Haid Sunday, 12 February 2023 01:05 PM

Again wrong decision Minister. Instead of imposing tax on imported let the farmer cultivate another cash crop in that area. We will eat imported potatoes at 1/3rd price.

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Jef Sunday, 12 February 2023 02:26 PM

This kind of monopoly happening in every category other countries politicians work hard to provide effortability keep cost of living inflation down to give comfort for fellow citizens...this fellows knows how to sabotage and increase prices given constant grief to fellow citizens do something that make sense get all local produce cheaper and reduce the suffering Rich have no issues but the poor have to suffer unconditionally

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No good gocal farmers will take advantage of consumers by upping prices further Sunday, 12 February 2023 04:00 PM

Pathetic decision again. Higher value items can be cultivated for open market successful economies instead of the addiction to import control to keep up failing industries. Only people with too much money at hand, or those in the local potatoe industry would want these control. Prices of local potatoes are too high already and farmer will now further put up prices. Same happen when milk power tax increased, the local industry jumps on the chance to increase prices.

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fathima lai Sunday, 12 February 2023 05:59 PM

local potatoes are 3 times more than imported. I will buy local when both have same price and taste

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VJ Monday, 13 February 2023 10:14 AM

The imported potato includes the cost of the produce, insurance and freight plus handling charges and tax plus the profit margin of the seller. Still you can buy them at a third of the locally grown potato. Local potato tastes better is not just a myth and our dumb people will believe it because of the belief that we are a superior race and what we grow is the best in the world.

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rbh Monday, 13 February 2023 10:53 AM

When they tax the byers will go down and and start to rot, The reason the foreign potatoes are cheap because like india there are larege quantites grown and no demand the prise will go down , in bangladhesh most of the people in there garden are grown and dont need to buy .

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