BRINJAL FARMERS IN A’PURA, MATALE IN DIRE PREDICAMENT

The brinjal farmers in the Anuradhapura and Matale Districts have been frustrated since they failed to reap the harvest in spite of the fact that the cultivation was started several months ago. The dejected farmers warned that they would commit suicide in front of those companies that imported the seeds, from whom they purchased the brinjal seeds.

They pointed out that a large sum of money has been spent for the purchase of brinjal seeds from the private seed sales outlets for cultivation but there was no harvest received so far after cultivation except for the flowers that bloomed.

Some brinjal farmers said that they spent more than Rs. 500,000 for the seeds and chemicals for the cultivation of brinjals but the owners of those seed companies would not take responsibility for their products

According to them, the brinjal plants had grown well with various types of chemicals spending much money as advised by the private seed sales outlets. However, they said that they were only left with the flowers that had bloomed, and there was nosight of the brinjals.

The farmers requested the authorities to mete out justice to them because the private seed sales outlets sold the seeds at exorbitant prices although they had been recommended by the Department of Agriculture. According to them, the wholesale price of a kilo of brinjal remained between Rs.65 and 70 and that they would have obtained a good income if they had reaped a good harvest. They said that they had been pushed to a situation of committing suicide as they had mortgaged their jewellery in order to undertake the brinjal cultivation.

Some brinjal farmers said that they spent more than Rs. 500,000 for the seeds and chemicals for the cultivation of brinjals but the owners of those seed companies would not take responsibility for their products.