The Ministry Of Agriculture  Has Decided To Release The Entire Amount Of Urea Fertilizer Required For Paddy Cultivation During The Maha Season From Today 

Economics Local News Media Info Research

Shakila Ifham

November 15, 2022

The unloading of Urea Fertilizer from the second ship with stock of Urea Fertilizer received to Sri Lanka under the World Bank Loan was done yesterday at the Colombo Port.

Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mahinda Amaraweera said that arrangements have been made to release the entire amount of urea fertilizer required for paddy cultivation this season from today  by all Agrarian Service Centers.

The minister stated this while participating in monitoring the unloading of fertilizer from the ship with 22,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer which has reached the Port of Colombo on  Tuesday (15).

The Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Gunadasa Samarasinghe, the Chairmans of Lanka Fertilizer Company and Commercial Fertilizer Company also participated in this event. The minister instructed the officials to pay more attention to whether the urea fertilizer is of the correct weight while filling the bags.

Minister told journalists that by now all the warehouses of both the fertilizer companies are full of fertilizers and they have to get some more fertilizer warehouses on rental basis. Also, distribution of urea fertilizer to all Agrarian Service Centers is currently being done.

To speak kindly to the farmers who come to the agricultural service centers, and that they have received information that the officials working in some agricultural service centers are acting in a way that makes the farmers tired of farming, and that strict disciplinary measures will be taken against such officials, and even to suspend such officials if necessary,  Minister said  adding that they are working on disciplinary action against some officials.

The minister also said that a group of so called Govi Niyojithas who claim to be farmers’ unions are engaged in a programme to disable the farmers from engaging in farming.

The Minister also said that  President Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to provide a subsidy of Rs. 20,000  to farmers who use organic fertilizers as they will receive urea fertilizer and MOP fertilizer during this month. Therefore, he also mentioned that he is asking the farmers to cultivate without fear as they will get enough chemical fertilizers in this maha season.