Cash incentive for farmers producing organic fertiliser

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved a proposal to pay Rs. 12,500 per hectare to farmers capable of producing their own organic fertiliser.  

The proposal by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage is yet another measure by the Government to promote the use of organic fertiliser. 

The cash incentive however is to be limited to two hectares (five acres) of paddy cultivation during the upcoming Maha season.

The Government said the Agriculture Ministry had planned to meet the requirement of organic fertiliser for paddy cultivation of about 800,000 hectares for the Maha season 2021/2022. 

Steps have already been taken to direct farmers to produce quality organic fertiliser, mainly under the guidance of the Department of Agrarian Development, and to increase the quantity of organic fertiliser produced by licensed manufacturers.