Sri Lanka to import potassium fertiliser for Yala season

• Govt. decides to imports 38, 500 MT of muriate of potash fertilizer
• To distribute the imported fertiliser under existing subsidy scheme for Yala season

Moving further away from the policy of promoting organic agriculture, the government has decided to import 38,500 MT of muriate of potash fertiliser and to distribute among paddy farmers under the government’s fertiliser subsidy programme 
for the upcoming Yala Season.

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage on Monday sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to import 38,500MT of muriate of potash fertiliser following an international competitive bidding process.

The Agriculture Ministry has estimated the requirement of 38,500 MT of muriate of potash fertiliser, which is known as  ‘bandipohora’ in paddy cultivation for this Yala season, based on anticipated cultivation of about 600,000 hectares during the season.

The Cabinet of Ministers also agreed to provide the fertiliser to farmers under the existing fertiliser subsidy programme, although the government earlier ruled out providing chemical fertiliser under the scheme.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Ministers also approved the methodology developed to compensate paddy farmers for their losses due to the short-lived and ill-thought-out ban on chemical fertiliser ban in the Maha season 2021/2022.

“A methodology has been prepared to pay the compensation that is calculated based on relevant criteria as an evaluation incentive limited to an extent of the agricultural area of 05 acres to the maximum so that small-scale farmers,

as well as small and medium level farmers, would be able to obtain the relevant incentive allowance,” the Government Information Department said.
Under the scheme, small-scale farmers would be remitted Rs.25 per one kilogram of paddy as compensation through the Department of Agrarian Development.