Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Wednesday, 23 June 2021 03:38 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In line with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s committed shift towards the use of organic material for sustainable agriculture, the Cabinet of Ministers this week approved a proposal to introduce a new Fertiliser Act replacing the existing legislation enacted in 1988.
The approval, based on the recommendation by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Althugamage, follows the Government identifying various issues in the existing Act in terms of fertiliser production, importation, packaging and distribution, and regulation in the light of implementing the new policy on organic fertiliser.
It was pointed out that the provisions in the existing Act were insufficient and irrelevant to meet the present-day requirements as well as promote the use of organic fertiliser across the agriculture sector countrywide.
“There are certain problems with distribution of fertiliser among farmers throughout the country. Necessary action is being taken to resolve issues in the immediate future,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana told the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.
Admitting that transition period from chemical to organic fertiliser was challenging, the Minister called on the farming community to be accommodative and help the Government to create a toxic-free sustainable agriculture for the benefit of future generations.
Dr. Pathirana also said the Government would provide compensation for farmers if their crops or incomes were impacted during the transition period.
He also assured farmers that there is no shortage of fertiliser in the country.
