The government has introduced 17 conditions for purchasing big onions from local farmers.
According to the new criteria, the diameter of each onion bulb purchased must be between 35mm – 65mm, while stocks with bulbs smaller than 35mm or larger than 65mm will only be accepted if they do not exceed 10% of the total weight.
In addition, quality standards require that each kilogram of onions contain about 08 bulbs.
Speaking at a press briefing, Chairman of Lanka Sathosa Ltd. – Samitha Perera stated that they only purchase big onions that meet re-sellable quality standards.
Meanwhile, farmers from Matale, Anuradhapura, and Polonnaruwa had begun harvesting their crops in the last several months.
However, they had complained that stringent conditions and limited purchasing schemes have left them unable to sell their produce at fair prices, with some reporting rotting harvests in storage.
Under the government’s initiative, Sathosa has begun buying onions at Rs.140 per kilogram, but the purchase limit is restricted to 2,000 kilograms per farmer.
