October 4, 2010

Sri Lanka bans imports of soy due to bountiful harvest

The Sri Lankan government has decided to ban imports of soy as the country has a bountiful soy harvest this year and farmers are struggling to sell their bumper crop.

The company, under the Ministry of Health, that produces nutrient 'Thriposha' to be supplied free of charge to pregnant and breast feeding mothers, is to purchase the harvest from the farmers through the regional farmer companies.

The Thriposha Company is to purchase soy at LKR95 (US$0.85) per kilo from farmer companies, who purchase the crop from farmers at LKR85 (US$0.76) per kilo.

The Corporative Wholesale Establishment stores at Welisara have been given to the Thriposha Company to stock the soy harvest.