A government proposal to handover the distribution of fertilizer to the private sector could lead to farmers becoming slaves of companies, a farming leader in the Wanni has warned.
Secretary of the agricultural organization in Iranamadu Muttu Sivamohan denounced the proposal by agriculture minister Mahinda Amaraweera, which is proposed to be implemented from Maha season this year.
Speaking to the media in Kilinochchi, Sivamohan said this could result in companies becoming the decision-maker in both production and sale of agri-crops.
That could even deny farmers the ownership of their land in the future, he said further.
He urged the government to think about its privatization policy in depth, or else it will strike a severe blow to public life.
Sivamohan pointed out a similar situation in India, where its farmers continue to rise up against the Adani Group.
Hundreds of thousands of farmers took to the streets in protest after the New Delhi government relaxed sales, pricing and storage regulations in November 2020.