President urges farmers to sell their harvests and distribute them for free to the poor: Amaraweera

According to Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the President directed government officials yesterday to buy crops from farmers and give them free of charge to the poor.

He added the President advised delivering the purchased crops free of charge to the general population, health and security forces personnel who are currently engaged in the fight against the COVID pandemic, at a media briefing at the Environment Ministry yesterday.

“The farmers who are having trouble selling their produce in a timely manner. Due to the present pandemic, the government has placed nationwide travel restrictions, preventing customers from coming to purchase the crops. Harvesting some vegetable varieties every two to three days is required. Otherwise, they will ripen on the trees, and many farmers would suffer as a result of not being able to sell their crop," he explained.

As a result, a program to harvest fruits and vegetables growing in many regions of the country was launched, according to Minister Amaraweera. "Considering all facts, the President asked the necessary authorities to establish a system in this respect," he said.

Farmers will be able to sell their harvest through this system once it is in place, according to the Minister. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)