The government has made a policy decision to promote using organic fertiliser among farmers to bring down to zero the Rs. 48,000 million loan taken for inorganic fertiliser subsidy soon, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
He said Rs. 36,000 million of the loan of Rs. 48,000 million was paid by the good governance government after they came into power.
Minister Amaraweera said the government had since then been able to urge 5,000 farmers to use organic fertiliser, which yielded six million kg of organic rice last year.
The Minister said the fertiliser subsidy would be granted to the farmers using organic fertiliser as well. He said the Cabinet has already approved the Ministry to provide the fertiliser subsidy to the farmers using organic fertiliser.
The Ministry is seeking possibilities to provide them with seed paddy and other saplings for free. He said the Ministry will provide the machinery needed for organic fertiliser using farmers.
“The government took measures to encourage at least 20,000 farmers in using organic fertiliser during the Maha season this year,” Minister Amaraweera said.
The Minister said the Agriculture Ministry along with the Strategic Enterprise Management Agency (SEMA) and Agrarian Development Department had already taken steps to encourage farmers in using organic fertiliser.
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