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Govt braces for food shortage

29 December 2021 07:32 am - 13     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The government is bracing for a possible food shortage in the coming months by initiating plans to secure around US $ 100-150 million from the Central Bank a month to import essentials such as rice, sugar, chilli, dhal and wheat flour from the regional countries, a minister said.

Experts have warned of a possible food crisis primarily due to the possible drop in yield over the lack of fertiliser for cultivation. Prices of foodstuffs such as rice and vegetables are spiraling.

Asked for steps to face the situation, Trade Minister Bandula Gunawardane told Daily Mirror a stock of rice had been ordered from Myanmar as a part of this exercise under a government to government purchase deal. Besides, he said some other food commodities would be imported from India through the private sector.

The Minister will lead a business delegation to Pakistan next month to discuss possible arrangements under the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

“I will discuss the import of Basmathi rice from Pakistan under the FTA. I have been assigned by the president to take measures to avoid a food shortage in the country ,” he said.

In the short run, he said he proposed backyard vegetable cultivation to overcome the shortage.

“We have to cultivate vegetables that yield within a short time,” he said.

However, the Essential Food Commodities Importer’ and Traders’ Association said more than 1,000 containers of essential items remained stuck at the port. Its President G. Rajendran said the lack of US dollars for payment was the main reason.

“We still face this problem. The licensed banks don’t release sufficient dollars,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)


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  • Jude Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:24 AM

    මේ තත්ත්වයෙන් මිදීමට මට නම් අනිවාර්යෙන් රාජපක්ෂලාව ගෙදර යවන්න ඕනේ හොදින් හෝ නරකින් !! ඔව්!! ඉක්මනින්, ඉතා ඉක්මනින් සිදුවිය යුතුයි!!

    Be Fair Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:36 AM

    So what the Secretary to the Ministry said was muck

    Stop Violating My Country Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:38 AM

    Time for no clue Nandasena Percy and the enormous good for nothing clan to leave gracefully ...

    Caby Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:41 AM

    CBSL is bankrupt! Seek $ from Cabraal!!!

    Haal Paruwa Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:41 AM

    Basmathi Rice! is it to ensure the rich won't go hungry? Sir why don't you ensure affordable varieties of rice is imported and distributed through Sathosa?

    Fernando Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:41 AM

    How do we cultivate vegetables? We live in an apartment. You fool! We can cultivate vegetables if we have bought lands from stolen money.

    johan Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:44 AM

    Nincompoop Minister where is the backyard to cultivate vegetables in all houses.Better he must find backyard to the entire population

    Jude Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:49 AM

    Soon SL gonna be Asia's worse poverty stricken country!! Yeah!!

    Ranaweera Wednesday, 29 December 2021 08:51 AM

    Funny situation. They stopped chemical fertiliser without a proper plan and put many people into trouble. Now they are going to import food which are grown with chemical fertiliser. What kind of wisdom is this. Are they focusing on the kick back commissions from imports?

    Beggar Wednesday, 29 December 2021 09:00 AM

    Bandula in a big operation- good if he declares his Assets.

    Labour of Love Wednesday, 29 December 2021 09:02 AM

    plant 2million coconut and Jack trees alongside the railway tracks around govt properties camps etc. Declare food emergency use civil defense army to grow vege and 3month crops in every bit of inutilised land. encourage Shramadana. import chicks and chkn food. grow grass now we can do it.

    Shiran de Soysa Wednesday, 29 December 2021 11:42 AM

    Araliya rice available in Australia.

    Roshanaly Thursday, 30 December 2021 11:14 AM

    Very soon we will be below Ethiopia and Sudan.


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