2023-12-28 19:14:00
Seed Tubers Supplied to Jaffna Spoiled Due to Improper Storage
The Minister of Agriculture has revealed that the seed tubers supplied to Jaffna by the Sri Lankan Government under the Agricultural Modernization Program have spoiled due to improper storage. This revelation has raised concerns about the quality and handling of agricultural supplies in the region.
In response to this claim, Coordinating Committee Chairman Minister Douglas Devananda and Northern Province Governor P.S.M. Both Charles have insisted that there are more issues at play. During a District Coordination Committee meeting at the District Secretariat, they raised questions about the outbreak of bacterial infection in the seed potatoes imported for the farmers of Jaffna district.
Governor B.S.M. Charles questioned the Northern Provincial Deputy Director of Agricultural Modernization Program regarding the mishandling of the seed tubers. He probed into how the seed tuber was brought to the Kuplan warehouse without any quality certificate, who gave permission for this, the cost of destroying the spoiled tubers, and alternative measures for the affected farmers.
The Governor has emphasized the need for detailed investigations into the import of the seed potatoes, as frauds may have taken place. This development has raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of agricultural supply chains in the region.
Meanwhile, the investigation team sent by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Agriculture has cited improper storage as the cause of the spoilage. This discrepancy in claims has further fueled the need for a thorough investigation into the entire process of procuring and storing agricultural supplies.
As the situation unfolds, it is crucial for authorities to address the concerns raised by the Governor and ensure that measures are in place to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. The agricultural sector plays a vital role in the livelihoods of farmers, and the mishandling of agricultural supplies can have severe repercussions on the entire community. It is imperative for the government to take decisive action to rectify the situation and restore confidence in the agricultural supply chain.
#Seed #Tuber #Persistence #pathivu.com