Cucumber harvests abandoned in Matale

Farmers in the Matale District have given up many of their cucumber cultivations since they lack a proper market.

They have obtained a bumper cucumber harvest this year. They, however, said that unless they get a proper market for their cucumber harvest, they will not cultivate cucumbers again.

A kg of cucumber is sold at dedicated economic markets at a price as low as Rs. 5. Many of the farmers spend over Rs. 1,500 to transport their cucumber harvest to the market. Another Rs. 3,000 was paid for labourers. A farmer said that he cannot earn even Rs. 500 after selling his harvest to the market..

Therefore, they said that they will give up cucumber cultivation.