The Sri Lankan Agriculture Ministry is to enter into an agreement with big onion importers to make it mandatory for them to purchase the produce of at least ten local farmers in order to protect local farmers, Agriculture Minister P. Harrison said.
The Minister further said that currently around 100 big onion importers in the country and strict legal action would be taken against those who violate that agreement. Measures will also be taken to cancel their importation license.
Minister Harrison said that the importation of big onions would not be allowed until the produce of local farmers is purchased and the import levy on big onions has also been increased by Rs 20 per kilo.
Currently more than 1000 big onion farmers in the country and they have to face various hardships when they are going to sell their produce due to the importation of big onion during the harvesting season. This has been going on under successive governments for a long time.
