Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera during his visit to Polonnaruwa.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that in the coming Maha season 2023/24, one more type of chemical fertilizer will be provided free to the farmers who cultivate paddy.
The Minister said that he has discussed this matter with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and has received a good response from him.
This year, the Government took steps to provide free TSP (Triple Super Phosphate) to the farmers after three cropping seasons. TSP will be provided free to all those who cultivated paddy in the last Maha season, regardless of whether or not they cultivate paddy in this Yala season.
The Government provides these concessions with the aim of reducing the production costs of the farmers.
The Government provided the farmers with the money needed to buy fertilizers in the last Maha season, as well as the money needed to buy fertilizers in this Yala season as a subsidy.
Accordingly, vouchers were issued to the amount of Rs. 20,000 for one hectare and Rs. 40,000 for two hectares.
The Government has also decided to issue money to farmers’ accounts instead of vouchers to buy fertilizers for all farmers in the next Maha season. Accordingly, farmers are allowed to purchase chemical fertilizers or organic fertilizers from the private sector or government fertilizer corporations if they wish.
Currently, the Agriculture Ministry has taken steps to reduce the price of urea fertilizer to Rs. 9,000 and the price of MOP fertilizer to Rs. 14,000.
Agriculture Minister Amaraweera made these comments last Saturday (15) at the Polonnaruwa District Secretary’s office while offering new agricultural equipment to young farmers in the district. The equipment was provided by foreign funded projects of the Agriculture Ministry.
