President wants uninterrupted fertiliser supply for Maha season

• Says Maha season to revolutionise agri history
• 25% of contribution from organic fertiliser
• Plans to produce fertiliser locally to meet the demand 

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed officials to take swift measures to supply fertiliser without any shortage for Maha season.

The Government expects to revolutionise the agriculture history of the country during the upcoming Maha season by increasing the harvest. Farmers are eagerly waiting to cultivate a large area of lands including lands abandoned for decades. Payments have been made for this year’s imported fertiliser.

The President stressed that fertiliser requirement of estates and farmers should be met on time in prescribed quantity with high standards.

The President highlighted these points during a meeting to discuss future activities of the State Ministry of Regulation of Fertiliser Production and Supply, use of Chemical Fertilisers and Pesticides held at the Presidential Secretariat on Tuesday.

“Plans afoot by the Government to assist a revolution in the cultivation sector,” Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival Chairman Basil Rajapaksa said. The background has been laid for importers in both public and private sectors to meet the demand for fertiliser without hindrance, he added.

President Rajapaksa emphasised the necessity of manufacturing fertiliser locally to meet the demand instead of depending on importation. Chairman of the Presidential Task Force said since several universities including University of Sri Jayewardenepura have conducted research there will be a possibility of supplying several major types of fertiliser to the local market within the next three years.

Researches have confirmed that the domestic demand for Single Superphosphate can be met utilising Eppawala Phosphate reserve. Experiments are underway to identify the possibility of producing new varieties of fertiliser using nano technology.

The President instructed the officials to commence production of fertiliser immediately while the needed investments will be made by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Organic fertiliser was used for 25,000 hectares of land during the last Yala season. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the expectation yield has exceeded by 30%. The President also directed officials to explore the possibility of using organic fertiliser in 25% of the total cultivated land during the Maha season. Through this move it is expected to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser by 25% this year itself.  The President advised the authorities to introduce a proper procedure to educate farmers about the higher yield they can harvest and other benefits of using organic fertiliser.

The national policy framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ envisages a country with a balanced environment where chemical fertilisers will not pollute land and water, and safeguard people from diseases including kidney diseases. 

Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that they will combine organic fertiliser with chemical fertiliser, in 70% and 30% proportions respectively.

The Minister said that they have purchased vegetables directly from the farmers and prepared a bag containing six vegetable items to be sold for Rs. 350 in 10 different locations within Colombo city limits even as they speak. The Minister added that in the future the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Line Ministries will continue to supply consumer needs for vegetable directly thereby protecting both the consumer and farmer.

State Minister Mohan De Silva, Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival Basil Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Secretaries of the Cabinet and State Ministries, officials of the line institutes and representatives from the fertiliser companies and planters were present at the discussion.