Govt.’s policy on use of organic fertilisers remains unchanged: Weeratunga

Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle (second from right) addresses the briefing at the Presidential Media Centre on the organic fertiliser policy. Others from left: Department of Agriculture Director General Dr. Ajantha de Silva, President’s Principal Advisor Lalith Weeratunga, President’s Spokesman Kingsly Rathnayake and Ministry of Agriculture Secretary Senior Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe

• Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle says plans made to provide required amount of organic fertiliser in each area based on code given to farmers following a soil test which is to start next week 
• Agriculture Secretary Senior Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe confirms only natural minerals and chelated matter produced using plant nutrients will be imported and those are essential for biological enrichment of the soil

President’s Principal Advisor Lalith Weeratunga yesterday reiterated that the Government’s policy on the use of organic fertilisers remains unchanged.

Weeratunga said that transforming a country that had been accustomed to using chemical fertilisers for decades to use organic fertilisers is a challenging endeavour, and therefore, the different opinions directed at the move were reasonable.

Weeratunga made these remarks at a briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC) on the topic ‘Has the ban on chemical fertilisers been lifted?’ yesterday.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Senior Professor Udith K. Jayasinghe, stated that only natural minerals and chelated matter produced using plant nutrients will be imported and those are essential for the biological enrichment of the soil. 

He also pointed out that as the use of organic fertiliser is a brand-new experience for many farmers, a mechanism has been implemented to monitor these activities on a weekly basis and plans are all set to apply new technologies and techniques for this purpose. He further added that the experts from state universities, faculties of agriculture and the field would be consulted in this regard and noted that they would be obliged to have the support of media outlets as well.

Treasury Secretary S.R. Attygalle said despite import restrictions, certain decisions have to be taken in terms of national interest, but these decisions will not be taken outside of policy.

Commenting on the decision taken to import only natural chelated minerals and micro matter nutrients, Attygalle said that such measures are being implemented under the strict supervision and recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant institutions. Plans have been made to provide the required amount of organic fertiliser in each area based on a code given to the farmers following a soil test. 

Dr. Ajantha de Silva, Director General of Department of Agriculture, stated that the soil tests will commence next week.

Responding to the question raised by journalists as to how the Government will respond if the harvest reduces due to the use of organic fertiliser, President’s Spokesman Kingsly Rathnayake quoted a statement made by the President and said: “Issues and complications may occur at the launch of the program. However, the implementation of a sustainable green socio-economic pattern should not be delayed. We need to identify the perfect solutions to the problems that emerge. The farmers may assume that giving up on chemical fertilisers will reduce the yield. If it does, the President guaranteed that the amount of over Rs. 50 billion that is spent annually on chemical fertilisers will be used to compensate them.”