The government has incurred a cost of nearly 121 billion rupees during the years of 2021 and 2022 to purchase organic fertilizer, according to the available statistics.
This has been executed through a programme devised by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. who fled the country amid an aggressive public upheaval.
The figure was disclosed by Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera during the budget debate in Parliament today.
The minister explained that 66848 million rupees (66 billion) have been paid to 34 manufacturers for the production of organic fertiliser in 2021 and 46470 million rupees have been paid to those fertiliser producers for the Yala season of 2022 . The government will have to pay another Rs 9.7 billion, and the total computed amount is over Rs 120 billion.
Answering a question raised by Ven. Athuraliye Ratana Thero, the Minister stated that there are few certified organic fertiliser producers in Sri Lanka and those stocks have been obtained as non-certified fertiliser products. He said, however, that the fertiliser thus obtained has been introduced as an environmentally friendly fertilizer.
The Minister, quoting reports, said the paddy yield in the 2021 Maha season, cultivated using this non-certified eco-friendly fertiliser sans chemicals, has decreased by 30 to 40 per cent, and the exact statistics will be published by the Department of Agriculture shortly.
The minister recalled that the individuals who claim to be academics, including doctors, who advised on the organic fertiliser programme are maintaining a stoic silence, and because of this, not only our food production but the whole nation is facing untold hardship.
Today, the people of this country are forced to consume rice grown in other countries using chemicals that are banned in our country. The minister said
