Vendors must comply - Minister
Chaminda Perera
The government yesterday insisted that the decision to use plastic
crates for the transport of vegetables was taken by the government in
agreement with the vendors with the aim of avoiding wastage.
|
Minister Johnston Fernando |
According to Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston
Fernando this move was introduced by the government with the concurrence
of vendors to protect the consumers who have to bear the brunt of
wastage due to improper packaging and delivery.
The minister emphasized that the protest carried out by a group of
vendors at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre against the
introduction of this measure to protect the consumers was instigated by
some groups with vested interests and the government is not ready to
give into such groups.
The minister said that he will put in place a mechanism to purchase
produce of farmers through Cooperative Wholesale Establishment and Lak
Sathosa directly, if the vendors continue to protest against the move.
He said that over 40 percent of vegetables and fruits go a waste due
to improper packaging and delivery methods and consumers have to bear
the brunt of this wastage.
Speaking to the Daily News yesterday, the minister added that the
government stressed the importance of introducing new plastic crates six
years back and easy payment schemes were also introduced for vendors to
buy crates.
Minister Fernando is of the view that more than Rs 20 billion can be
saved to the country by using plastic crates. He said the usage of
plastic crates for the collection, transporting of vegetables was to be
made compulsory from January 01 this year but the government wanted to
give ample time to the vendors to adjust themselves to the change. |
