News
Agro-chemical ban reversal a tad too late for Maha Season
For many farmers, the news was a huge relief when the Government announced it was reversing the ban and allowing the private sector to import chemical fertiliser, but it was too little, too late to save their crops during the ongoing Maha season.
Not only that, many farmers expressed concerns about Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage’s comments that the Government would extend its support and provide subsidies only to farmers who resort to environment-friendly organic farming practices.
Farmer S. Jeganthan told the Sunday Times he welcomed the Government decision even though it came a tad too late as the season started nearly two months ago.
“Although the season began two months ago, most farmers could not secure adequate amounts of subsidised liquid fertiliser imported from India either from government outlets or in the open market,” said Mr. Jeganathan, who is the Secretary of Iranaimadhu Agrarian Union.
Pointing to yellowish dying leaves of his crop, he said, “We can see the results of not using fertiliser on the poor growth of crops now.”
With only one month left for harvest, the Government should take urgent steps to ensure chemical fertilisers are distributed to the needy farmers so they can save the crops and avoid a food crisis, the farmer leader said, adding that many farmers in the Kilinochchi were also badly hit by the incessant heavy rains in recent weeks.The Government’s U-turn this week on its ambitious organic fertiliser farming drive caused some confusion with conflicting statements from the Minister in charge, the State Minister and the Ministry Secretary. Critics said it showed how inefficient and unprepared the Government was with regard to a crucial issue affecting the people, apart from its poor communications capabilities.
Last Sunday, Agriculture Ministry Secretary told a private broadcaster that the Government would lift the ban on chemical fertiliser and pesticides, only to be denied by Agriculture Minister hours later.
Then came, State Minister Sasheendra Rajapaksa’s statement that chemical fertiliser restrictions would be lifted, except for paddy cultivation. At the Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, Minister Aluthgamage maintained that no decisions were taken to import agrochemicals.
Adding to the confusion, another announcement came that at a critical meeting chaired by the President, it was decided that there would be no change in the Government’s green agriculture policy.
At this Presidential Secretariat meeting, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa openly criticised senior Agriculture Ministy officials for not educating the farmers on organic farming, inferring if they were not supportive of his policies, they could leave his administration. Coming under severe criticism was the Colombo Commercial Fertilizers Ltd Chairman. He left the meeting when the President demanded answers from him to his queries regarding the country’s organic fertiliser requirements.
Farmers say that the Government’s poor policy-making had pushed them into a major financial crisis.
In the current Maha season, many farmers downsized their cultivation or returned their leased farm lands due to the shortage of chemical fertiliser. Some engaged in farming only for their own consumption since they could not run the risk of obtaining a reduced harvest and suffering losses from large-scale farming.
One of the main reasons why the Government banned the import of chemical fertiliser in April is to prevent the drain of dollars from the country’s foreign reserves at a time when it required the dollars to honour its international debt repayment. The Government spent USD 400 million a year to import 1.26 million metric tonnes of agro-chemicals, according to the National Fertiliser Secretariat.
According to the Agriculture Ministry, the total paddy cultivation extent of both the Yala and Maha seasons in 2020 was 1.3 million hectares while other field crops constitute 97,120 hectares.
Another key farmer grievance is that the move to allow the private sector to import agro-chemicals will give them a free hand in fixing the prices without government oversight.
Earlier, a urea fertiliser bag (50kg) was fixed at Rs 3,430 and farmers were provided free of charge under a subsidised ration scheme.
At present, a urea bag is sold in the black market at prices between Rs 10,000 and18,000.
Agriculture Department Director General Ajantha de Silva said that in the coming days, the Finance Ministry would issue a gazette notification on the reversal of the ban on importing chemical fertiliser.
This will be followed by an Agriculture Department gazette notification on the rules to be observed by farmers who opts to use chemical fertiliser. “I’m still waiting for the gazette notification. Only then will I be able to comment on the procedures to be followed.”
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