Govt. will not reverse organic farming policy, will introduce better program to win farmers’ trust

The ‘Presidential Task Force on Creating a Green Sri Lanka with Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change’ has decided to implement a program that will win the confidence of the farming community regarding organic farming.

The Task Force has taken steps to introduce a successful new program due to the loss of confidence of the farming community in the bio-liquid fertilisers as well as other fertilisers introduced by the Government for organic farming.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Organic Fertiliser Production, Quality Control and Supply Network Management operational under the Task Force at the Ministry of Agriculture last week.

Presidential Task Force on Creating a Green Sri Lanka with Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change Chairman Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister of Agriculture Shasheendra Rajapaksa and several representatives of the subcommittee were present on the occasion. The subcommittee is chaired by State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa.

The Sub-Committee at length discussed how to successfully face the next Yala season, overcoming some of the shortcomings experienced during the Maha season this year.

The Planning Division of the State Ministry of Agriculture explained the methods that have been put forward so far in the implementation of the Government’s Organic Fertiliser Policy, and presented views on the further implementation of the scientific methods mentioned in the President’s Policy Statement.

The main point raised during the discussion was that many of the problems that have arisen at present in implementing these methods can be solved by producing the best quality bio-generated solid and liquid fertilisers as per the recommendations of the National Standards Institution in the country and providing to the farmers.

During the discussion it was further decided to continue the President’s organic farming policy taken for the welfare of the country.

“We look forward to continuing this initiative taken by our Government, including His Excellency the President, for the future welfare of the entire people of the country, without any reversal. We will never try to degrade the health of the people of the country in the hope of votes or preferences,” Subcommittee Chairman Shasheendra Rajapaksa said.

It was also proposed to extend the fullest support of the Presidential Task Force in this regard and to make a presentation on the progress of the issues agreed upon during the discussion at the next Task Force meeting.