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Govt. slashes supply of subsidised fertiliser
View(s):Agriculture Ministry says paddy lands over-fertile; farmer unions dispute claim
The Government has slashed the supply of subsidised fertiliser to paddy farmers by over 100,000 tons or by 25% on the grounds that the farming lands were over-fertile, but farmer unions are disputing the claim. The move would save the Government Rs. 7 billion annually from the Rs. 26.2 billion spent on the fertiliser subsidy.
Waiting for fertiliser: A scene at a warehouse in Polonnaruwa. Pic by K. G. Karunaratne
Agriculture Ministry Secretary W. Sakalasuriya told the Sunday Times the decision to cut down the supply of fertiliser was taken after research by soil experts revealed that the paddy lands had been over fertilised during the past seven years. “If they continue to use the same quantity there will be a situation that yield will not further increase,” he said.
Mr. Sakalasuriya said the country was importing more than 700,000 tons of fertiliser. Farmers have held protests over reduced fertiliser supplies during the past three weeks. Fertiliser companies restricted the supplies after the Treasury delayed the outstanding payments to them.
Ceylon Fertilizer Corporation (CFC) Chairman Buddhika Madihahewa told the Sunday Times that the Treasury this week had cleared 80 per cent of the outstanding payments and therefore the supplies could be restored. He said the Government spent Rs. 50 billion on the fertiliser subsidy.
He said the Government had decided to cut down the supply of fertiliser to encourage farmers to use organic fertiliser. However, farmer unions are claiming that the Government was cutting down the fertiliser supply because it could not sustain the subsidy.
Ranjith Ratnayaka, President of the Farmers Society at Bendiwewa in Polonnaruwa dismissed the claim that the paddy lands were over-fertile.
“The Government wants to reduce the supply of fertiliser as it seeks to cut down on the budgetary allocation for the subsidy,” he claimed. At present, more than 1.7 million paddy farmers are entitled to the fertiliser subsidy.
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