ACNFO formed to help farmers
 

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

An independent organisation under the name of All Ceylon National Farmers Organisation (ACNFO) has been formed with a view to implement a joint programme to find out solutions to the burning problems encountered by nearly 8 million of the country's farmer community.

At present there is an urgent need for a national level farmer organisation to overcome the problems faced by farmers. Many farmer organisations functioning in the country have been turned into pawns of various political parties. This has blocked the path for farmers to unite to sort out their burning issues, ACNFO Convenor Ranjith Kumarasinghe told a media briefing yesterday.

The ACNFO has been formed in collaboration with a large number of farmer organisations functioning under the country's major irrigation schemes.

He said the organisation intends to focus the Government's attention on several key issues faced by the farmer community in general. ACNFO National Organiser Siripala Jayaweera said the organisation requests the in coming President to bring the Farmers' Act to Parliament by safeguarding farmers' rights.

He said the organisation appreciates the steps taken by the Government to provide fertiliser subsidies to farmers.

"However, we request the Government to provide due recognition to farmers which they have lost at present.