Farmers’ organisations across the country have voiced their objections over the criteria introduced by the government for purchasing locally produced big onions, alleging that the move is intended to favour imported stocks rather than support local cultivators.
Amid growing distress among local big onion farmers struggling to sell their harvests at a fair price, the government recently launched a program through Lanka Sathosa to purchase big onions directly from producers.
However, when the initiative commenced at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre, officials introduced 17 strict criteria governing the onions eligible for purchase. Among the conditions were that the onions must measure between 35mm and 65mm in diameter, be uniform in size and quality, have about eight onions per kilogram, and be fully mature, well-dried, and clean with at least two dried outer layers.
The purchase price for onions meeting these requirements has been set at Rs. 140 per kilogram.
Farmers who arrived at the Dambulla Economic Centre yesterday protested the criteria, saying that most locally grown onions do not conform to such standards, effectively excluding local produce from the buying program.
Officials at the site, however, stated that no local big onions had been brought to the purchasing centre since October 10, suggesting that farmers may be holding back their stock in protest.
Meanwhile, big onion farmers in Thambuttegama, Thalawa, and Nochchiyagama continue to face mounting losses as they remain unable to sell their harvests, urging the government to revise the purchasing criteria to reflect local cultivation realities.
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