MINOR EXPORT GROWERS TO PROTEST ON ISSUES

The price of export crops has shown a sharp decline The cultivators of export crops have been neglected The stocks exported exceeded the local production

The minor export crop cultivators in the country were in a predicament for want of a remunerative market for their produce and that the ACAC would launch a campaign compelling the Government to resolve the issues, the All Ceylon Agrarian Congress (ACAC) said.

National Organiser of the ACAC Namal Karunaratne told the media that they will kick off the campaign from Deiyandara in Matara on August six and expand it to other districts and finally stage a massive protest in front of the Ministry in Colombo.

“The cultivators of export crops have been neglected by the Government and left to the mercy of racketeers who exploited the cultivators,” he said.

“A large population all over the country depended on the minor export crop trade, but they are now in a predicament for want of a market for the produce. The price of export crops has shown a sharp decline

due to the surreptitious activities of racketeers who import cinnamon, pepper, Cambogia, areca nut, and several other traditional export crops and re-exported them for exorbitant prices under the pretest of local produce.

The cultivators of export crops have been neglected by the Government and left to the mercy of racketeers who exploited the cultivators

“The stocks exported exceeded the local production which was a clear indication of the ongoing racket. Meanwhile, the racketeers misusing the concessions provided by the Indo-sri Lanka Trade Agreement were evading taxes,” he saidthe ACAC National Organiser requested Minister Daya Gamage to look into the issue and save the farmers from the racketeers or else the export crop cultivators all over the country would launch the demonstration in front of the Ministry.