Plastic crates make successful comeback

* Veggies outside list transported in crates
* Already used by 75 percent of traders
Irangika RANGE

The use of plastic crates to transport fruits and vegetables at seven Dedicated Economic Centres across the country has been successful.

It is reported that around 75 percent of traders and transporters are using plastic crates to transport fruits and vegetables from seven Dedicated Economic Centers in Dambulla, Nuwara-Eliya, Thambuththegama, Keppetipola, Meegoda and Narahenpita to other parts of the country.

Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre manager (Development Section) Lasantha Sanjeewa told the Daily News that the use of plastic crates was made compulsory for 11 varieties of vegetables.

They include tomatoes, tibbatu , carrots, bittergourd, thumba karawila , cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, capsicum and cucumber.

He said the use of plastic crates to transport these 11 specified vegetables has recorded 90 percent success at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre.

Nuwara Eliya Dedicated Economic Centre manager R M Bandara said both traders and transporters are using plastic crates to transport specified vegetables from the Nuwara Eliya Dedicated Economic Centre to other areas.

"Most farmers who arrived at the Dedicated Economic Centre in Nuwara Eliya from other areas transported their vegetables in plastic crates even though they were free to transport their produce from farms to economic centres in any mode," he said.

Thambuththegama Dedicated Economic Center manager Prashan Rajapaksa said that 75 percent of transporters and traders are using plastic crates to transport vegetables to other areas from the Thambuthethegama Dedicated Economic Centre.

Keppetipola Dedicated Economic Center manager Isuru Bandara said that vendors and transporters are using plastic crates to transport five specified categories of vegetables including tomatoes, carrot, capsicum, cucumber and lettuce. "They transport these vegetables from the Keppetipola Dedicated Economic Center to other parts of the country."

Meegoda Dedicated Economic Center manager Ruwan Kumara said around 1.4 million of plastic crates have been distributed among traders and transporters to transport vegetables.

"The use of plastic crates to transport vegetables and fruits is 70 percent successful at the Meegoda Dedicated Economic Centre," he said.

Narahenpita Dedicated Economic Center manager Jude Ranasinghe said traders and transporters are using plastic crates to transport not only the specified 11 vegetables, but also various other vegetables and fruit.

Around 90 percent are using plastic crates at the Narahenpita Dedicated Economic Center.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/02/03/news20.asp