The government will impose certain limitations on importing several food items as a means of encouraging fair prices for the harvests of local farmers, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development Minister P. Harrison today said.
Accordingly, importation of big onions, potatoes, Orid (Undu seeds) and Corn will undergo limitations, Minister Harrison explained.
“When the big onion harvest of our local farmers reaches our markets we need to limit importation of big onions or introduce new taxes. Our farmers deserve a fair price in the local market. Undu harvesting started about a month back. So we have increased taxes on imported Orid from Rs. 125 to Rs. 200. We have also increased the taxes on potatoes from Rs. 20 to Rs. 50. Meanwhile, we have completely stopped the importation of Corn. All these limitations and tax increases were done in order to give better prices for our local farmers.” Minister Harrison further said.
Minister Harrison made these observations at a press brief held yesterday at the Mahaweli Center, Colombo.
Asked on Sena caterpillar threat, Minister Harrison observed that the government has successfully controlled the pandemic from further escalation.
“We cannot say we have irradiated the problem 100%. However, compared to the results we have got, we have exceeded the expectations. We have incorporated both scientific methods and traditional methods to control this issue.
We can assure our farmers to commence cultivating for Yala season without any fear.” Minister Harrison further said.