INFERIOR ONION SEEDS AFFECT LOCAL PRODUCTION

The Farmers’ Organizations in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Matale Districts were perturbed by the racketeers who took advantage of the prevailing shortage of big onion seeds, have smuggled large consignments of inferior big onion seeds from India and mixed them with the local products. They said that it seriously affected big onion cultivation in several areas including Dambulla, Galewela, Sigiriya, and Anuradhapura.

A representative of a Farmers’ Organization in Dambulla said that several traders in Dambulla had distributed large stocks of substandard Indian seed onion and added that the racket was continuing undetected under false names of hardware stores, hotels, and agrochemical shops had been used to deal with seed onion without licenced authority.

Meanwhile of Asst. Agriculture Director W.J. Samarawickreme said that the farmers should use only the seed onion recommended by the agricultural instructors and said that he had received information regarding the racket and would

A representative of a Farmers’ Organization in Dambulla said that several traders had distributed large stocks of substandard Indian seed onion and the racket was continuing undetected with false brand names

take necessary action. The official had warned that although the onion seeds were marked with 80% germination, only 45%had been found productive.

Matale District Secretary Helen Meegasmulla said that steps were being taken to send an investigation team to carry out raids to bring the culprits to book. She said the continuing racket seriously affected the big onion production in the country