• Traders who don’t buy directly from farmers and transfer stalls will lose licences  

The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to cancel the licences of traders who refuse to buy vegetables and fruits from farmers who bring their produce to dedicated economic centres islandwide as well as those who have transferred their stalls to other interested parties, The Daily Morning learns.

An official of the Ministry said that farmers from several areas had complained to Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera that certain traders from economic centres refuse to directly purchase their vegetables and fruits. As most traders purchase products from farmers through middlemen, he said that the same has resulted in the exploitation of both farmers and consumers.

Considering their complaints, Amaraweera had called a group of farmers for a special meeting to discuss the issues related to economic centres and assured that the Ministry would take action to cancel the licences of traders who refuse to purchase vegetables and fruits directly from farmers. He said that although economic centres were established by the respective Governments for the benefit of farmers and consumers and to prevent their exploitation, a group of scammers has currently taken control of economic centres islandwide. “The Ministry will make arrangements for farmers to sell their products without the intervention of any middlemen as soon as possible,” he said. Speaking further, Amaraweera said that while it has been planned to increase the number of stalls in economic centres, there are, however, numerous issues the authorities have had to deal with. “Certain persons have turned the stalls in these centres into their family properties. We will take strict action against such persons and transfer the ownership of such stalls to others who wish to start a business. This will be done very soon.”

Among the dedicated economic centres in Sri Lanka are those in Narahenpita, Dambulla, Veyangoda, Meegoda, Thambuththegama, Jaffna, and several other areas. There have been frequent incidents of traders refusing to purchase farmers’ products, particularly vegetables and fruits, and farmers having to dump their products or sell them at a very low price. It was also reported recently that several traders of economic centres have violated the relevant legal provisions by sub-leasing their stalls to others.