News
Pumpkin bounty becomes a burden
View(s):Pumpkin growers in Nawagattegama in the Puttalam district are struggling with massive piles of unsold produce after a substantial harvest.
Farmers in Nawagattegama, Konkadawala, Gaminipura, Rathkiragama, Serugodayaya, Inginimitiya, Kelewewa, Welewewa and several other villages had cultivated more than 200 acres.
The farmers said they had sold pumpkins for about Rs 100 a kilogram, but after this harvest they had not been able to sell a kilo for Rs 25.
Malani Swarnalatha said initially when the harvest was being gathered, a kilo was sold at Rs 25, but not anymore. Now, pumpkins have piled up in their gardens and homes.
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- Malani Swarnalatha: Pumpkins are piling up in their gardens and homes, she laments
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- K.P. Premaratna: Some buyers were offering just Rs 10 to Rs 15 for a kilogram
Farmer K.P. Premaratna, said that some buyers were offering Rs 10 to Rs 15 for a kilogram, which is not sufficient to cover costs including that of labour and insecticide.
Ajith Kumara Ratnayake, another farmer, said expectations that the government will help to find markets, had not been realised. Some pumpkins, harvested earlier, were now rotting and the authorities should step in fast, he said.
He said they had faced a similar crisis a few years ago and a government agency and a reputed company which supports farmers stepped in.
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
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