President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the Agriculture Ministry to commence a programme to buy excess crops from farmers and distribute them to the needy people and also among health staff, the security forces and others who are doing a yeomen service to the country to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic for free, Environment Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
He was speaking at a media briefing at the Ministry yesterday. The Government has imposed travel restrictions across the country, which makes it impossible for farmers to sell their crops.
The main reason for that is that buyers do not come to buy crops. Therefore, many farmers are suffering, Minister Amaraweera said.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, therefore, has instructed relevant authorities to initiate a programme in this regard and requested the Government to buy crops from the farmers and distribute them free to the public, especially to all health staff including the Security Forces who are committed to eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic. The farmers who are facing difficulties in selling their crops will be given the opportunity to sell them under the programme, he said.
