President wants production of organic fertiliser expedited

• Issues instructions to locally manufacture and also to import machinery required for fertiliser production
• Required amount of organic fertiliser to be recommended following a soil test
• Soil testing equipment to be distributed to all Agrarian Service Centres

A number of programmes are being planned to expedite the production of organic fertiliser required for the Maha season, a media communiqué from the President’s Media Division this week said.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa instructed the officials to take steps to study the machinery required for the production of fertiliser and import them and to manufacture the machinery that can be manufactured locally with the assistance of the Government Factory and Army Corps of Engineers.

The President gave these instructions at a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on June 2, regarding the production of organic fertiliser.

Special attention was paid to production of fertiliser at local government level. The President also explained the need to impart technical knowledge to these institutions.

The raw material used for the production of organic fertiliser can be sourced from the rural environment itself. The President pointed out that this would preserve the cleanliness and beauty of the village and that a new rural economy could be built with the participation of Samurdhi recipients.

There may be challenges in implementing this programme. But in line with the ‘Vision of Prosperity’ policy, the people’s right to a non-toxic diet must be guaranteed to produce a healthy and productive citizen.

Many in the world said it was impossible to be active in the fight against terrorism. The same is true of the organic fertiliser programme. The President emphasised that overcoming this was the need of the hour.

The President also stated that in order to make this programme a success, it is imperative that the farmers be provided with the required amount of organic fertiliser without any shortage. 

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that the complete quantity of organic fertiliser required for this purpose is expected to be produced in the country and in case of any shortage, the required quantity of organic fertiliser will be imported and stored by the government.

Aluthgamage said that a special programme would be launched to inspect the soil and recommend only the required quantity when issuing organic fertiliser to farmers and that steps will be taken to provide the necessary soil testing equipment to all the Agrarian Service Centres in the country.

State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa said that steps are being taken to impart the necessary technical knowledge to the farmers for the production of organic fertiliser. It was also decided to provide a series of printed instructions to farmers to make them aware of the use of organic fertilisers.

The President officially handed over the soil testing equipment to the Commissioner General of Agrarian Services and Director General of Agriculture.

State Minister Mohan de Silva, Secretary to President P.B. Jayasundera, Finance Secretary S.R. Attygalle, secretaries and officials of the Agriculture Ministry and line state ministries were also present at the occasion.