Production rate of crop industries declined by 50%: Marikkar

COLOMBO (News 1st); The production rate of the tea industry and the rubber cultivation industry has reduced by 50%, SJB Parliamentarian S.M. Marikkar says. Speaking to media today (15), the MP pointed out that according to calculations, when the Sri Lankan rupee depreciates, the producer of the relevant crop is supposed to get a higher rate for their product. He also stated that as the number of ships that arrive in Sri Lanka has reduced due to import restrictions, it costs a lot more for exports as Sri Lanka has to pay much more for exportation, which subsequently lowered the demand for such products, and the excess cost has to be borne by the farmers and producers. Marikkar added that although the Government also promised for concessions to be granted for export crop cultivators, it has however failed to do so, and had declined to grant the promised fertilizer concessions to farmers as well.