Agrarian centres to sell veges cheap

The Government through the Agrarian Services Department will commence a program to sell fresh vegetables, fruits and grains at a price 30 percent less than the market price in 10 agrarian services centers located in Colombo and suburbs from February 8.

Nearly 500,000 farmers are actively engaged in 13,000 farmer organizations attached to the 556 agrarian service centers across the country," Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S.M.Chandrasena told the Daily News. These farmers will be able to sell their vegetables, fruits and grains directly to consumers at concessionary rates through this program.

The Minister said that the Department have deployed trucks to bring fresh commodities from farmers islandwide. These items will be sold by farmers directly to consumers in these 10 agrarian service centers from February 8 onwards. Consumers living in Colombo and suburbs will also have the opportunity to purchase fresh commodities cultivated across the country at low prices.Essential items could be provided to consumers at low rates since there will not be a middle-man involved. Therefore, both farmers and consumers will reap huge benefits through this program, he said.

"We will increase these agrarian service centers upto 100 to provide fruits, vegetables and grains at low rates to consumers before the Sinhala and Hindu New Year festival," he added.

IR