Food producers to get better prices through DECs

Irangika Range

The Government will establish four Dedicated Economic Centres (DEC) in Vavuniya, Hettipola, Monaragala and Chilaw this year to ensure reasonable prices for producers by providing marketing facilities for rural farm products.

This will also provide an opportunity for consumers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at low prices. This project would also help small scale producers to reduce their transport costs and damage occur in transportation.

The proposed DEC in Vavuniya is expected to market seasonal agriculture products coming from North, North Central and Eastern Provinces.The centre in Monaragala will be catered for marketing and distribution of farm products coming from Uva, Eastern and Sabaragamuwa Provinces.

While the Chilaw centre will distribute various fish products and other products coming from the coastal areas of Wayamba Province.

The Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Ministry is searching for suitable locations to construct the centres and to obtain plot of lands with the coordination of relevant Divisional Secretaries.

The Ministry also expects to complete the construction of the on going projects of Kurunduwatta and Wariyapola DECs.