The government has taken steps to purchase surplus stocks of vegetables and fruits that cannot be sold to farmers during the period of covid-19 travel restrictions and distribute them free of charge to families who have lost their livelihoods and to selected places run by the government.
Accordingly, the Government has taken steps to implement a program to distribute the purchased fruits and vegetables free of charge to the Covid Treatment Centers, all Government Hospitals, Armed Forces and Displaced Persons and families without a livelihood.
The proposal made by the Minister of Agriculture, to proceed with the related activities, was approved by the Cabinet.
The government says small and medium-sized farmers, as well as large-scale farmers, are facing a major economic crisis due to the spoilation of their products, especially vegetables and fruits, by the inability to transport and trade normally due to travel restrictions imposed by the government islandwide.
Furthermore, the consumers also face the problem of shortage of affordable vegetables and fruits.
Accordingly, stocks of vegetables and fruits which cannot sell sale during travel restrictions will be purchased by the District Secretaries / Government Agents under the prices of District Price Committee.
