'Vegetable prices down by end of month'

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The present high vegetable prices will decline by end of this month, the Hector Kobbakaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HKARTI) stated.

The Yala vegetable harvest would arrive at the market by end of July. One of the main reasons for the current high prices is the short supply in the market as we are yet in mid Yala season, said acting Director HKARTI, Dr. L. P. Rupasena.The prevailing weather conditions with rain and strong winds in the months of June and July in such largely vegetable growing areas as Welimada and Bandarawela could be attributed to the current shortage in the market. At present up country vegetables such as carrot, beatroot, knokhol, cabbage, green chillies were in short supply in the wholesale market, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the low country vegetables such as brinjals, ladies fingers, snake goured, wetakolu, kekiri and wattakka are available in plenty at reasonable prices.

Referring to the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre which supplies both the low and up country vegetables to the retail market the Acting Director said except for eight daily lorry loads of small onions and 2000 Kilos of green chillies the centre did not receive any vegetables according to the HKARTI officer of Dambulla office.