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Potato growers in Sri Lanka's Badulla District have criticized the government's decision to purchase locally grown potatoes at Rs 220/kg (US$0.66/kg), saying the intervention came after the Yala harvesting season had ended.
Growers in Welimada, Uva Paranagama, Bandarawela, and Diyatalawa reported selling their harvests below cultivation costs despite reducing planting areas to limit financial losses.
Farmers said they struggled to secure buyers at Rs 160-180/kg (US$0.48–US$0.54/kg) at the Keppetipola Special Economic Centre, prompting calls for government procurement through state-run Sathosa.
The government announced that Lanka Sathosa would begin purchasing potatoes at Rs 220/kg (US$0.66/kg) from October 29. However, growers said most of their harvests had already been marketed.
Potato grower U.H.K. Nandapala attributed declining farmgate prices partly to competition from imported potatoes, which he said were available at lower retail prices.
Growers also raised concerns about a previous procurement initiative, alleging that Sathosa suspended purchases and failed to complete payments for potatoes supplied last year.
R.M. Rohana Ramanayake, convener of the Vegetable Farmers' Council, said rising cultivation costs and potato imports had placed pressure on local growers since 2019.
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