Bhathiya Barukanda
Director of Socio- Economics and Planning at the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Chamila Chandrasiri said there has been a threefold hike in prices of essential food items since 2022.
She told the Daily Mirror that the surge in output prices is due to a rise in machinery and labor costs.
“The Department of Agriculture has implemented long term programs to double rice and maize production and introduced technical packages for paddy cultivation to improve overall yields. We also believe in reducing rice imports and paving the road to self- sufficiency,” she said.
Dr Chandrasiri explained that the stark increase in food prices comes in response to inflationary pressures, and the CAA has since stepped in to regulate price hikes on essential commodities such as rice.
“It was only a few months ago that the price of carrots grew to 2000 Rupees, price stabilization in the market should be of utmost concern,” Dr Chandrasiri said.
