More than 1000 acres of big onion cultivation destroyed by pest

9 August 2022 12:00 am Views - 101

• Farmers claim that pesticides were not available even in the black and that it resulted in the ruin of more than 1000 acres of big onion cultivation

By Dayaratne Embogama   

More than 1000 acres of big onion cultivation in several areas in Galenbindunuwewa division has been destroyed by a pest much to the anxiety of farmers.  

Big onion cultivation in Kiulakada, Getalawa, Mailagaswewa, Aluthdiulwewa and Thonithotgama is the worst affected.   

Farmers pointed out that pesticides were not available in the market even for black market prices and that it resulted in the ruin of more than 1000 acres of big onion cultivation.  Secretary of the Perakum Agrarian Society in Galenbindunuwewa R.M.J.Rajapakse said when a month old big onion cultivation was affected by a pest, they informed the officials of the Agrarian Services Department, but the agro chemicals recommended by them were not available in the market. He said the farmers used a substitute but to no avail. He pointed out that the farmers had spent more than Rs. 100,000 per acre of big onion cultivation and that they were incurring heavy losses.