Quality plant nutrients to be imported to SL once again

COLOMBO (News 1st); Permission has been granted to import quality plant nutrients once again. The decision was reached following a risk management plan made by a group of agronomists and experts to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Speaking to News 1st, the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe stated that several plant nutrients, including Urea have been ordered. He adds that discussions in this regard will be held with the President next week. The Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Prof. Udith K. Jayasinghe further stated that a risk management plan was formulated by a group of 11 experts following the results of the adverse weather situation. According to the recommendations of the panel of experts, the decision was taken in view of the importance of food safety mechanisms at times of extreme weather conditions. The Secretary to the Agriculture Ministry added that Sri Lanka does not have the capacity to manufacture enough organic fertilizer adequate at the time, while the existing organic fertilizer stocks were also put at risk after the extreme weather conditions. Speaking further, the Secretary to the Ministry said that certain harm was indeed caused by the decision to ban chemical fertilizer.