District Farmer reps tell President not to reverse decision on organic fertilizer

COLOMBO (News 1st); President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa assured that the required amount of organic fertilizer including herbicides and pesticides will be made available to farmers in the same manner as chemical fertilizers were provided.

The President while addressing a meeting of the District Representatives of the Sri Lanka Agrarian Federation said that local entrepreneurs and businesses will have the opportunity to produce organic fertilizer locally.

The President stated that the government has planned to provide farmers funds to produce organic fertilizer by themselves.

He further said that the amount of Rs. 80,000 million spent annually on the use of chemical fertilizers will be made available to the farmers of the country.

Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage handed over the Agrarian Insurance Scheme to the President today, reactivating the farmers' insurance which was suspended during the previous government.

The Minister of Agriculture also revealed that the government has paid attention to increase farmers' pensions.

The Presidential Media Unit stated that the President has approved to increase the contract payment to farmers when entering into agreements on renovating irrigation tanks and waterways, from Rs. 02 million to Rs. 10 million.

The Presidential Media Unit stated that the District Farmers' Representatives requested the President not to reverse the steps taken to use organic fertilizer.