Sri Lanka bans use of gunny bags in transportation of vegetables

(January 14, 2011) Sri Lanka Ministry of Cooperatives and Internal Trade has issued a gazette notification directing the transporters of vegetables to use plastic crates or any other proper method in transportation of vegetables.

The Ministry has given a grace period of one month to adjust to the new method. The Ministry Secretary Sunil Sirisena says that the offending transporters will be brought to book after this period. Consumer Affairs Authority has been assigned for the task, he says.

The Ministry says that improper practices used in transporting vegetables cause loss of produce. However, the traders say that the use of plastic crates cost space and the transport costs will go up since less amount of vegetables can be transported than in the loeeies filled in with gunny bags.

Posted in food , transport , vegetable