Farmer organisations in Anuradhapura said that Land Development, Environment and Wildlife Conservation Minister S.M. Chandrasena must take action to take maximum use of the Eppawala phosphate deposit in Anuradhapura.
They said that they lack fertiliser for the 2020 Yala season and could cultivate only 79,000 hectares in this season.
‘’While we lack fertilizer, the Agrarian Development Department, private and state fertiliser companies and the Agriculture Ministry are passing the ball to each other. We do not demand fertiliser for free or any subsidy from the government. We need adequate stocks of Urea, MOP. and TSP in the open market at a reasonable price,” the farmers said.
A former Chairman of the Eppawala Phosphate Company presidential counsel Karunaratne Herath said the Eppawala phosphate deposit is said to have 60 million metric tonnes of high grade phosphate. It is one of the richest and unique apatite deposits in the world, covering about 324 hectares.
‘’It commenced production in 1974 and since then only three per cent of the total reserve has been used. The Eppawala Plant produces only rock phosphate. It is used only to plant crops such as tea, rubber and coconut. The level of production of the deposit can be increased manifold by using modern technology in the production,” he said.
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