• Linked to shortage in supply and stock availability: Farmer associations 
• Price controlling impractical: State Ministry Secretary 
• Govt. should look at food preservation techniques: Trade union

By Sarah Hannan  The lack of employing post-harvest technology, to process and store excess food that is produced during a bountiful harvest, has once again put the Sri Lankan consumer in a tight spot, as the prices of vegetables and fruits have skyrocketed this week.   Just three months ago, farmers were lamenting the inability to sell their produce even at the lowest price possible, as the wholesale marketplaces and the special economic centres that were established by the Government were overflowing with stocks. To add to that, the travel restrictions that were placed due to the Covid-19 second wave and some centres being closed for business had added to their burden.   Today, the tables have turned. Farmers now struggle to match market demand, as yields have dropped due to the torrential monsoon rains that the country experienced between December 2020 and end-January 2021. Crops were lost to flash floods and excessive rain, and farmers were unable to salvage much of the produce during that time.   The Sunday Morning spoke to the Manning Market Traders’ Association Chairman Lal Hettige to understand the changing dynamics due to the price increase, and how it has affected the farmer and then the trader.   “The Manning Market is a point of sale which allows farmers to directly sell their produce to the consumer or the retailers that arrive at the premises every day. We follow a bidding model; therefore, it is the consumer/buyer that decides the price that vegetable or fruit stocks are sold at on a particular day. These days, products are in short supply; therefore, the prices have increased,” Hettige responded.  

No effect on farmers  

We were told that the Manning Market sells produce under three grades, and the price points vary depending on the grading of the vegetable or fruit stock. Grade “A” vegetables and fruits are bought by the businesses in the Tourist Board-approved hospitality industry and healthcare sector, as they opt for quality and are not that disturbed by the price point. Grades “B” and “C” are bought by retailers, restaurants, households, etc., where pricing is taken into consideration to a certain extent. “Whoever can afford to purchase products even at a higher price will continue to purchase good quality vegetables and fruits. Among them are the consumers who purchase smaller quantities as well. Therefore, on any day, farmers and traders that arrive at the Manning Market are able to earn a living,” Hettige elaborated.  

No price control  

Meanwhile, The Sunday Morning contacted the State Ministry of Paddy and Cereal, Organic Foods, Vegetables, Fruits, Chilli, Onion, and Potatoes Cultivation Development, Seed Production, and Higher Agriculture Technology Secretary L.L.A. Wijesiri to inquire whether the Government was looking to introduce a controlled price mechanism for vegetables and fruits.   “Vegetables and fruits that we consume are seasonal; therefore, it is impractical to introduce a price controlling mechanism. It is a given that, during this time period where we wait for the next cultivation season to commence, there will be a shortage in certain types of vegetables and fruits, which causes the prices to increase due to high demand and shortage in supply.”   Last week, the State Ministry had called two farming associations and proposed that they sell their produce directly to the consumer through the special economic centres located in Narahenpita and Ratmalana starting from this week onwards. “Lindula and Ragala farmer associations have been instructed that they can sell their produce by adding a transportation cost of Rs. 20 per kg of produce that they sell at these economic centres going forward. That way, they will be able to turn a profit even if that means they have to pay for transportation of their goods to these centres,” Wijesiri noted. Agrarian Services Development Officers are instructed to co-ordinate this process, and the Department of Agriculture is to make the purchases from the farmers before selling them at two dedicated shop spaces that will be allocated in Narahenpita and Ratmalana. According to Wijesiri, in the future, this method is to be employed at other special economic centres as well.  

Post-harvest yield management  

All Ceylon Farmers’ Association Convenor Namal Karunarathna, sharing his recommendations on how the price fluctuations could be equalised, said: “Every year, we face this situation, and every year we recommend that the Government should look at post-harvest yield management methods. Just recently, we saw thousands of kilos being dumped at the border of the Digampathana Forest adjacent to the Dambulla Special Economic Centre, and the excess vegetables and fruits became elephant feed during that time.”   According to Karunarathna, many projects that were initiated by previous regimes seem to have failed, as to-date there are no cold room facilities at these special economic centres to store excess food that is brought by the farmers on a daily basis.   “Moreover, if food processing methods are in place, it can allow farmers to earn extra money from it and allow consumers to access various seasonal foods that are preserved,” he added.