In a startling development today (02), the Peliyagoda Manning Public Trade Association announced the highest recorded vegetable prices in recent history within Sri Lanka.
The surge in prices is attributed to the ongoing heavy rainfall and a notable decrease in vegetable yields.
D.P. Prasad Susantha from the Peliyagoda Manning Public Trade Association shed light on the situation, revealing that farmers have refrained from sending their produce to Colombo markets.
As a result, consumers are grappling with exorbitant prices, with carrots, beans, tomatoes, fish, chillies, green chillies, and brinjals hitting unprecedented levels at Rs. 600, Rs. 600, Rs. 600, Rs. 600, Rs. 1000, Rs. 500, and Rs. 500 per kilogram, respectively.
"The prices have not reached these historic figures before. The surge is directly linked to the impact of heavy rainfall on vegetable production," stated D.P. Prasad Susantha.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute conducted a press conference today to address the root causes behind the soaring vegetable prices. Dr. Samantha Palliyaguru, the Additional Director, pinpointed the decrease in supply as the primary factor driving the price hike.
In addition, he highlighted the heightened demand for vegetables during the festive season as an exacerbating factor. As the nation grapples with these unprecedented prices, concerns about the potential long-term impact on consumers and farmers alike are on the rise.
