The Government has turned away two shipments from China and suspended the issue of letters of credit (LC) to import chemical fertiliser to the country in a bid to give way to the new policy of converting to organic fertiliser. Two shipments from China carrying 18,000 Mt of chemical fertiliser for paddy and other crops [...]

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Shipments turned away; Govt. pushes ahead with chemical fertiliser ban

President insists on switch to organic variety; but farmers fear shortage; expert suggests gradual process
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The Government has turned away two shipments from China and suspended the issue of letters of credit (LC) to import chemical fertiliser to the country in a bid to give way to the new policy of converting to organic fertiliser.

Two shipments from China carrying 18,000 Mt of chemical fertiliser for paddy and other crops are among the shipments which have been cancelled in keeping with the directive from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to switch over to organic fertiliser with immediate effect.

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told the Sunday Times that banks had been directed not to open any more LCs while the decision had been conveyed to companies importing chemical fertilizer.

“We will be able to manage with available stock of fertiliser for this season and it will last for the next few months,” he said.

But, across the country, farmer organisations said they were already experiencing a shortage of fertilisers for the current Yala season although the authorities claimed adequate stocks were available.

On Friday, the Agriculture Minister  met private companies representatives to discuss ways of producing organic fertiliser required for the next season.

The Sunday Times learns that company representatives had pointed out that production of organic fertiliser required for all crops may not be possible immediately and it would take a long time to produce the required quantities.

The Agriculture  Ministry said it secured Cabinet approval to convert the state-owned Ceylon Fertiliser Company Ltd. into an institution that would produce, supply and distribute organic fertiliser in association with local government institutions.

In addition, arrangements are being made to establish a chemical fertiliser company jointly with the Lanka Phosphate Company operating under the Ministry of Industries along with a proposal to manufacture Single Super Phosphate as a substitute to Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) by using Apatite of Eppawala Deposit, according to a ministerial note.

Noting that at present, 95,000 metric tonnes of TSP are imported annually at the cost of USD 38 million (Rs 7 billion), the Ministry said its target was to increase the use of organic fertiliser up to 30 percent within the next three years under the Saubagyaye Dekma project.

According to the Agriculture Ministry’s National Fertiliser Secretariat, 574,705 metric tonnes of fertiliser were imported last year while the total requirement was 1.2 million metric tonnes. The rest was imported by the private sector.

Farmer associations also raised concern about the sudden announcement, claiming that move was likely to affect the production this season as organic fertiliser was not available in large quantities.

Dr Hemakumara Nanayakkara, who holds a doctorate in organic fertiliser said that although the Government’s decision was in order, such policy decisions could not be implemented hurriedly and there should be a gradual process followed.

President Rajapaksa has defended the move to stop the use of chemical fertiliser on the grounds of the negative consequences to human lives through pollution of lakes, canals and the groundwater while the impact on the health sector outweighs any benefits. He has stated that Sri Lanka is the first country in the world to stop the import of chemical fertiliser.

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