SL seeks FAO assistance to conduct survey on composition of soil

Sri Lanka has sought the assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to conduct a survey on the composition of Sri Lankan soil and grant a soil card to farmers.

The FAO has expressed its willingness to assist in streamlining the use of organic fertiliser in 
Sri Lanka.

The FAO has drawn attention of Sri Lanka to conduct a survey on the fertility of soil in every district of Sri Lanka and formulate an indicator on the composition of soil in each district. 

The Foreign Ministry reports that FAO Sri Lanka County Representative Vimlendra Sharan discussed in depth on these matters at the time of meeting with Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. This meeting took place on June 29.

Gunawardena, who expressed his pleasure to the FAO for its assistance to estimate the nutrients in the land used by Sri Lanka for agricultural purposes, has paid more attention to deliberate in this regard at the meeting.

Gunawardena has pointed out that such an understanding may lead the government for due management of use of fertiliser and direct the farming community to have more harvest and lucrative agriculture without wastage.

Gunawardena has pointed out that since conducting a formal soil survey on the Sri Lankan agricultural land has been delayed for a long period, it would be overall beneficial for the farmers to have a soil health card on such a survey.