Fertilizer crisis: Anamaduwa Farmers protest in paddy fields

A group of farmers in Maha Uswewa, Anamaduwa held a protest in their paddy fields today against the Government's failure to provide them with fertilizer even a month after planting their crops. 

The protesting farmers were among a group that had planted their crops for the Maha Season under the Inginimitiya Reservoir Project. 

They stated that about 6000 acres had been farmed this season under the Inginimitiya project but that some 2500 acres belonging to nearly 1000 farmers were yet to receive any fertilizer. 

They pointed out that due to the Government's failure to supply fertilizer, their crops, which are now more than a month old, are not growing properly and are starting to wither and die. 

Puttalam District Assistant Commissioner of Agriarian Services G.K.S. Pushpakumara acknowledged there was a severe shortage of fertilizer. He said they had notified the National Fertilizer Secretariat about how much fertilizer was needed for this season, but they had received far less than what was required. 

 Text and Pix by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe