Govt. to import more fertiliser for Maha cultivation: Minister
Despite severe foreign exchange constraints triggered by the Covid- 19 pandemic, government will import an additional consignment of fertiliser with the aim of cultivating more lands in paddy and other crops in the coming Maha season, Co- Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet news briefing yesterday, Minister Pathirana said farmers had to confront with numerous difficulties due to periodical changes in the fertiliser subsidy policy during the Yahapalana regime.
“Defaulting of payment to fertiliser companies, influx of substandard and low quality fertiliser into the market were common occurrence during that period. Therefore, it has been planned for the precise implementation of the fertiliser provision methodology for the farmers with effect from the Maha season 2020/21 to address the issue,” he said.
Minister Pathirana added that ‘Mada Pohora’ will be supplied to paddy farmers free of charge to popularise environment friendly fertiliser among farmers, import 230,000 metric tons of fertiliser required by paddy farmers for the Maha season 2020 / 21 through government fertiliser companies under accelerated programme for the supply of fertiliser without creating a shortage for the Maha season 2020.
“Approval has been granted to fertiliser companies to import 300,000 metric tons of fertilizer additionally considering that only 40,000 metric tons of fertiliser is available with the fertiliser companies to meet the requirement of 332,000 metric tons of fertiliser for the Maha season 2020/21 and for other crops excluding paddy cultivation,” Minister Pathirana said.