Supply Shortage, High Demand Drive Up Vegetable Prices

 Due to the adverse weather conditions that affected the Nuwara Eliya region in recent days, severe damage has been caused to vegetable crops in the area. Consequently, it has become impossible to provide a supply commensurate with market demand, leading to a potential increase in vegetable prices in the future, stated Mr. S. Saniththasan, Secretary of the Nuwara Eliya Economic Centre.

Speaking at the Nuwara Eliya Economic Centre on the 1st, the Secretary pointed out that the prevailing adverse weather had severely impacted farmlands. He added that due to practical issues encountered during the transportation of vegetable stocks to Colombo, the Economic Centre had not even purchased vegetables from farmers in recent days.

The Secretary noted that market prices are already showing a rapid change, with a kilogram of carrots, which was sold at a wholesale price of around Rs. 100 a few days ago, having to be purchased from farmers for a high price of Rs. 500 by the 1st.

Furthermore, a large quantity of seed potatoes prepared for sale has been destroyed due to the heavy rainfall. Mr. S. Saniththasan further stated that farmers are currently making strenuous efforts to dry these seed potatoes in the sun to restore them to a usable condition.