N’Eliya vegetable prices decreasing, as stocks increase

Vegetable stocks distributed from the Nuwara Eliya Economic Centre, which were down month, have shown a gradual increase.

The figures which dropped to around 60,000 kilos a day have shown an increase with more than 100,000 kilos being dispatched daily to outstation markets.

The high prices that were seen during the Christmas season and thereafter are also gradually decreasing.

Prices for each kilo of vegetables were as follows on Friday: cabbage Rs.140, carrot Rs. 330, leeks Rs 130, potatoes Rs 240, salad leaves Rs 200 and tomatoes Rs 350.

Although a scarcity of vegetables were anticipated with prices showing an upward trend in the past two months, farmers were turning back to cultivation even without chemical fertiliser.

However, farmers say they were paying excessive amounts for fertiliser sold by traders expecting high returns.

Some farmers had paid Rs 9500 for a 50 kilo bag of chemical fertilizer, which was earlier made available at a subsidised rate of Rs 1500. The bags issued through the agrarian services are now available with traders.