Commercial agriculture sector fears worst from proposed fertilizer ban

• Says the proposed move will reduce crop yield and increase cost of production 
• Points out far reaching implications to country’s food security 
• Tea sector warns significant reduction in output and export earnings 
• Says expert opinion and advises critical before implementing ban

By Nishel Fernando 
While calling for wide stakeholder consultations in implementing the announced ban on chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals in Sri Lanka, the country’s tea, rubber, coconut and fruit & vegetable growers in commercial agriculture warned of far reaching implications from such a ban.

The Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) in an appeal to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa last week requested to reconsider the blanket ban on chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals, which could risk 40 to 50 percent drop in tea output and export volumes in both Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and smallholders, impacting nearly three million livelihoods in the industry.

The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA), which represents RPCs predicted 50 percent drop in their outputs in a year, if the announced blanket ban goes into effect, while pointing out that commercial agriculture would become uneconomical in the country.

“Without a balanced fertilizer application that is recommended and approved by TRI which includes NPK and other minor nutrients, we cannot engage in commercial agriculture. We will have 25 percent crop loss in six months and it could come down to 50 percent in a year. At the same time, our cost of production will double by adding up to the current losses. The industry will become completely unviable and unsustainable,” former PA Chairman Roshan Rajadurai told Mirror Business. 

He also cautioned of a possible decline in the quality of Ceylon Tea in the absence of a way to source required nutrients, which could lead to a drop in auction prices.

Meanwhile, the Coconut Growers Association of Sri Lanka (CGASL) President Jayantha B. Samarakoon cautioned that coconut yields could come down by one third within year if the ban comes into place, while doubling the price of a coconut. 

The Association has already expressed its concerns regarding sourcing phosphorus and potassium to the Ministry of Planation issuing a letter last week.

In particular, it highlighted the challenges to Sri Lanka’s food security with the implementation of the announced ban on chemical fertilizer, given the country’s prevailing supply shortages.  

“The CRl, CCB and our Association are working towards a target of achieving 4.6 billion coconuts by 2025. If we discontinue the use of chemical fertilizer without an economical alternative method to use organic fertilizer, we will not be in a position to maintain current yield or strive to achieve this target. 

The application of organic manures has an extra cost implication in obtaining organic manure, labour cost and cost of transport as large quantities have to be transported.It is very important not to disrupt the agriculture practices adopted by the coconut grower without providing proper alternatives as it demotivates the grower and finally reduces the yields. 

Unlike the other two plantation crop’s tea and rubber, coconut is a staple food and supply shortages will affect food security and the foreign exchange earning capacity from coconut industry,” CGASL emphasized in its address to the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries, Ravindra Hewavitharana.

The Lanka Fruit & Vegetable Producers, Processors and Exporters Association (LFVPPEA) President Suresh Ellawala also raised concerns on the announced ban while stressing that expert opinion and advice are critical in implementing such a ban.

“As the process goes, we have concerns if this can be implemented in this manner.  Experts have to come forward and tell us what alternatives are available to ensure that adequate harvest is available and prices will remain stable,” he said.

In particular, he noted that firms engaged in cultivations using high-tech, green houses and so on are worried about sourcing water-soluble fertilizers.

Rajadurai pointed out that it’s not economically viable for commercial agriculture to depend only on organic filisters and agro-chemicals. 

“Our requirement per hectare is around 500-600 kilos of fertilizer at the moment. We will have to apply 5000 kilos of organic fertilizer to get the same equivalent, and it will take us years to get the return,” he added. 

According to CTTA, Ceylon Tea’s share in global market could dip to 10 percent from current 14.5 percent if the ban goes into effect. 

However, Minister of Agriculture, Mahindananda Aluthgamage recently assured that he would take full responsibility in assuring the country’s food security and safeguarding the agriculture sector which contributes Rs.821 billion to the GDP per annum.

According to him, the government is expected to reveal a comprehensive plan in implementing the ban while meeting the fertilizer and pest control needs through organic means.