Sri Lanka to import organic fertilizer needed for Maha Season

Cabinet approval has been granted to import required organic fertilizer and natural mineral through the government- own fertilizer company for the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of paddy fields during 2021/2022 Maha Season, Co-cabinet Spoeksaman Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said. He was speaking at this week's cabinet media briefing held today at the Government Information Department. The government has taken measures to ban the use and import of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides to promote the use of organic fertilizers in the country. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture has identified the need to take immediate action to supply the required organic fertilizer for the 2021/2022 Maha Season

Update: 

Organic fertilizer for next Maha season

Ishara Mudugamuwa

Cabinet approval has been granted to import required organic fertilizer and natural mineral fertilizer through the government-own fertilizer company for the cultivation of 500,000 hectares of paddy fields in the 2021/2022 Maha Season.

Co-Cabinet Spokesman Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella speaking at this week’s Cabinet media briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department said the government has taken measures to ban the use and import of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides to promote the use of organic fertilizers in the country.

Accordingly, the Agriculture Ministry has identified the need to take immediate action to supply the required organic fertilizer for the 2021/2022 Maha Season.

At present there are 27 local organic fertilizer manufacturers licensed by the National Fertilizer Secretariat Office and considering the production capacity of ten of them, it is possible to supply organic fertilizer locally for 224,000 hectares for the 2021/2022 Maha Season and to manufacture the required organic fertilizer for another 100,000 hectares subsequently to make available of the required facilities for the identified farmers.

The Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposals made by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to appoint a special procurement committee on organic fertilizer, natural minerals, and chelated herbal trace and a technical committee specialized for the relevant subject to assist the procurement committee.

Cabinet approval has also been granted to import the organic fertilizer through the licensed companies that have permission to import fertilizer for 600,000 hectares of the other crops adhering to the recommendations of the research institutions of the relevant crops.

Approval has also been granted to import identified specific fertilizers for non-food charming plants, cut flower cultivations, and non-soil cultivation through the Import License Method adhering to the recommendations of the research institutes of the relevant crops.