FARMERS, CONSUMERS WILL BENEFIT FROM PRICE INQUIRY HOTLINE: JOHNSTON

Now anyone, whether it was the paddy farmer, the vegetable farmer or even the consumer could dial 1977 and inquire about the market prices of crops. This would enable them to get a fair price for their crops Yet another benefit of having this service was that it would eventually lead to the middlemen being cut from the transaction thereby stopping them from exploiting the farmers and as a result the consumer as wellEven the consumers are invited to make use of this valuable service to find out the price of vegetables before they go to the market to make their purchases

The Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture had combined to introduce a telephone price inquiry system for the farmers and consumers. This was launched yesterday against the backdrop of World Consumer Rights Day.

Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando said that now anyone, whether it was the paddy farmer, the vegetable farmer or even the consumer could dial 1977 and inquire about the market prices of crops. This would enable them to get a fair price for their crops. Yet another benefit of having this service was that it would eventually lead to the middlemen being cut-off from the transaction thereby stopping them from exploiting the farmers and as a result the consumer as well.

“Even the consumers are invited to make use of this valuable service to find out the price of vegetables before they go to the market to make their purchases,” he said. However the minister warned that there could be some shortcomings in the service initially but they would be rectified in the time to come.

Minister Fernando said that the consumer affairs authority would be trained to handle the technology involved in this process.