The government will buy big onions from farmers at Talawa at a floor price of 40 rupees a kilogram from today (16), Minister of Trade Consumer Affairs and Cooperatives Bandula Gunwardena told The Island yesterday (15).

The regional Director of Agriculture Anuradhapura R. P. Mahindapala said 760 hectares of big onions had been cultivated by farmers other than those living in the Mahaweli zones in the Anuradhapura and a yield per hectare of 20- 25 tons was expected.

There was a greater demand for big onions cultivated with local seed and these onions fetched over 50 rupees a kilogram while the onions cultivated with imported seeds fetched about 40 rupees a kilogram. Dambulla farmers concentrated on local seeds and would earn a higher profit during the present crop season, Mahindapala said.