• Raw materials such as cow dung, cow urine and city wastes were required for manufacturing of carbonic fertiliser.  

By Kelum Bandara   

In the wake of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa slapping a ban on the use of agrochemicals, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said the companies involved in business of such products were requested formally to shift to manufacture or import of organic fertiliser and insecticides.  

The government had a meeting with the representatives of these companies and other stakeholders on Wednesday.  

The Minister told Daily Mirror yesterday the participants took stock of the situation and discussed how best the organic farming could be introduced. He said availability of raw materials such as cow dung, cow urine and city wastes were required for manufacturing of carbonic fertiliser.  “We asked the companies to explore the possibility of importing carbonic fertiliser if the required amount cannot be manufactured locally,” he said.   Also, he said the companies were requested to produce organic insecticide.  

“We will have a meeting with the President and submit him a report on the introduction of carbonic agriculture in place of farming with agrochemicals,” he said. 

• Companies were asked to explore the possibility of importing carbonic  fertiliser if the required amount cannot be manufactured locally