Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday, 20 May 2026 06:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved procuring 15,000 tons of urea fertiliser through Agrarian Service Committees under the Department of Agrarian Development for the 2026 Yala cultivation season.
Although initial estimates indicated that 550,000 hectares of paddy land would be cultivated during the season, current projections suggest the cultivated extent is expected to be between 450,000 and 500,000 hectares.
Based on this, officials have estimated a total requirement of around 75,000 tons of urea fertiliser for the season.
According to latest data, 48,297.87 tons of fertiliser already available in stocks is being distributed through Agrarian Service Committees.
On 6 April 2026, the Cabinet approved supplying a 50-kilogram bag of urea fertiliser to farmers at a fixed price of Rs. 10,200.
Accordingly, the latest approval allows for the purchase of an additional 15,000 tons of urea fertiliser to ensure sufficient supply for farmers during the Yala season, based on a proposal presented by the Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K. D. Lalkantha.
However, Minister Vijitha Herath acknowledged the delay in fertiliser distribution due to the disruptions caused by the ongoing tensions in the Gulf region as well as increased prices.
