President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa yesterday (27) instructed officials to take steps to provide organic fertilizer for the Maha season to farmers without any shortage.
The President also pointed out the importance of implementing a comprehensive mechanism involving all sectors for this purpose.
Due to the President’s ban on the import of chemical fertilizers, there is a severe shortage of fertilizers in the market. Despite the fact that farmers, coconut, tea and rubber plantation associations pointed out that it was not appropriate to ban the sudden importation of chemical fertilizers without any future plans, the President was adamant in his opinion.
As a result, all farms, tea, coconut and rubber plantations are without fertilizer.
Gotabhaya Rajapaksa’s ‘Vision of Prosperity’ policy statement stated the people’s right to a non-toxic diet to produce a healthy and productive citizen and steps have been taken to direct the use of organic fertilizers to make agriculture a reality in the country, the Presidential Media Unit said.
During the previous Rajapaksa regime, there was a program to promote this non-toxic food. At that time the program was spearheaded by Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero. Farmers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces were encouraged to practice non-toxic farming and various programs were launched to promote non-toxic food throughout the country.
Meanwhile, Hela Bojun Hall was opened. The ministry began selling non-toxic processed foods in restaurants. It is safe to say that supply was low and demand was high.
Meanwhile, journalists from Colombo media institutions were taken to showcase local farming in the North and East. The writer was also able to participate in that journey. There, farmers from Muttur, Kinniya and Kantale met journalists. However, the organizers made a concerted effort not to allow journalists to speak to the farmers alone.
In the meantime, the author, in a private conversation with a farmer, said that these things could not be done with organic fertilizers alone, and that we would apply some chemical fertilizers.
This toxin-free program at the time faded into obscurity. Now the incumbent President is trying to implement this new program again.
There are 05 major fertilizer companies in the country. They are CIC Fertilizer Company, Lak Fertilizer, Agursta, Commercial and Bauer Fertilizer Company. At present these fertilizer companies do not have chemical fertilizers. They are distributed all over the island and the fertilizer dealers are helpless today.
When inquired about this from a fertilizer dealer, he said that the shop now does not receive any chemical fertilizer. He also pointed out that despite the presence of organic fertilizers, they could not be supplied on demand. He believes it will take time for fertilizer companies to put organic fertilizer on the market.