Moves to ban transportation of vegetables in gunnysacks

Irangika RANGE

Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services Minister Bandula Gunawardhana said the Ministerial Sub Committee of Food Security and Cost of Living will look into banning the transportation of vegetables in gunnysacks.

The Minister said transporting vegetables in gunnysacks damaged vegetables.

"We hope to introduce a new plastic packaging system for farmers enabling them to transport their crops protecting the vegetables' freshness," he said. The Minister said this would also prevent unnecessary waste occurring when transporting vegetables in gunnysacks.

The Minister said vegetable farmers will be provided with a certain period to get familiar with the plastic packages and rules and regulations will be imposed to prevent use of gunnysacks .

He said farmers in Nuwara-eliya, Thambuththegama and Dambulla have already been educated about the new plastic packaging system.

Meanwhile, the Trade Ministry expects to establish a new wholesale trade complex attached to the Dedicated Economic Center in Narahenpita to facilitate farmers to store their vegetables wrapped in plastic packages.