Govt. calls for applications from growers for fertiliser subsidy

The Government has called for submission of applications by growers who want to obtain fertiliser subsidies for the year 2016.The Ministry of Plantation Industries said yesterday submissions must be made before 31 October.

It said the Government has already launched the program for granting a financial subsidy for fertiliser applied to the plantation crops, tea, rubber and coconut. Accordingly, the financial subsidies paid annually crop-wise for each hectare cultivated will be Tea Sector - Rs. 15,000; Coconut Sector - Rs. 9,000 and Rubber Sector- Rs. 5,000.In this context, tea, rubber and coconut growers who own a cultivated land to the extent of less than one hectare are eligible to the relevant financial subsidy in proportion to the extent of land cultivated annually.  The amount of the subsidy will be directly credited to the bank accounts of the eligible beneficiaries.

Growers are being requested to contact the Regional Offices and the relevant officials of the following institutions to obtain the applications: 

For the Tea Sector it will be the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (Tea Inspector/ Extension Officer); for the Rubber Sector it is the Rubber Development Department (Rubber Development Officer) and for the Coconut Sector – the Coconut Cultivation Board (Development Officers of the Ministry of Plantation Industries serving in the field, Coconut and Development Officers, Agrarian Development Officers).

Further, applications could be obtained through the Tea Small Holder Development Societies, Thurusaviya Societies and Kapruka Societies. 

The duly completed applications should be submitted to the Tea Inspector Extension Officer/ Rubber Development Officer/ Coconut Development Officer.