President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has directed relevant authorities to provide fertilizer to farmers without any shortages for the forthcoming Yala season, says the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The fertilizer stocks are due to arrive in the island within the coming weeks, the PMD said further.

The President has also instructed to design a proper procedure to swiftly distribute fertilizer among all the farmers and stressed that the farmers should not be inconvenienced for any reason.

These directives were issued today (03) during a meeting held to review the current process of importation and distribution of fertilizer stocks. The discussion took place at the Presidential Secretariat.

Issues pertaining to the importation of fertilizer were discussed at length and the President has advised the officials to obtain the preliminary inspection reports on the quality of fertilizer within 10 days prior to distribution.

Farmers are inclined to use excessive quantities of fertilizer, in hope of a bigger harvest. The President has highlighted the significance of educating the farming community about the harmful aspects of using chemical fertilizer over organic fertilizer.

He has noted that it was high time they are gradually directed towards the use of organic fertilizer in their cultivations.

President Rajapaksa has pointed out that there was an increasing demand for produce grown using organic fertilizer.  President added that it was vital to increase the production of organic fertilizer, both, in order to meet the market demand and for a healthier future generation.

The PMD says that the officials were advised to identify the countries that produce high quality fertilizer and import from them. President further advised them to recognize the annual harvest of the main crops including paddy, and make the fertilizer importations accordingly.

Minister Chamal Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundara, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance S.R. Attygalle, Secretary to the Ministry of Mahaweli, Agriculture, Irrigation and Rural Development Neel Bandara Hapuhinna, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Ravindra Hewavitharana, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, H.A. Dissanayake and senior officials representing the Department of Agriculture, Ceylon Fertilizer Company and fertilizer importers were present at the discussion.