The Premier said this in response to a series of questions raised by DNA Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake who demanded to know the actions taken by the government to sort out the problems faced by the potato farmers.

Prime Minister Jayaratne said that the Cabinet of Ministers gave approval to a proposal to purchase all stocks of potato produced by the farmers in the Yala season this year at a certified price of Rs 80 per kilo. The purchases would be sufficient for the country’s potato requirements for the four months from the end of August to December. Hence the government had suspended importing potatoes. “The Lak Sathosa has entered into agreements with farmers to purchase their produce at a guaranteed price of Rs 80 per kilo. Upto Sept 09, the Lak Sathosa outlets have purchased 828 metric tonnes of potatoes from farmers,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that the government has taken action to provide storage facilities to store the potatoes being purchased. The storages would help government to amass stocks of potatoes and to maintain the prices of potatoes in the market.

In addition, the government had instructed all the District Secretaries and government agents to observe the harvest being produced by potato farmers and to continue the fertilizer subsidy provided to farmers.

Apart from that the government continued to provide agriculture loans to farmers at 7 percent relief interest and to supply locally produced seeds for concessionary prices, the Prime Minister said. (Special Reporter/HC)