By Buddhika SamaraweeraVegetable traders claim that the prices of vegetables in economic centres islandwide have risen sharply, while their quality has significantly dropped in the absence of fertilisers and pesticides. Speaking to The Morning, a trader at the Peliyagoda Manning Market said that the prices of vegetables have gone up significantly in the last week alone, adding, however, that the quality of vegetables delivered to the market has dropped by as much as 75%. Claiming that the quality of vegetables, fruits, and other products had declined since the Government decided to ban the importation of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, he said that farmers cannot produce good-quality vegetables without fertilisers and pesticides. Meanwhile, traders at the Meegoda Dedicated Economic Centre also stated that the quality of vegetables they receive has dropped drastically, to the extent that consumers were not even buying them. The retail prices were Rs.

Source: The Nation November 14, 2021 19:36 UTC