Drive to popularise compost

by L. S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

A Compost Fertiliser Week will be held soon to popularise the use of compost, said Director Compost Fertiliser Division, Ministry of Agriculture Development Hemantha Wijewardena.

He said the Government has allocated Rs. 350 million to set up compost fertiliser villages islandwide and over 50,000 farmers will be trained in compost fertiliser production.

An agricultural instrument kit worth about Rs. 3,500 will be given to them.

This project will be implemented by the provincial councils, he said. "Over Rs. 40,000 million had been spent annually to import fertiliser.

The Government therefore hopes to minimise fertiliser imports by popularising compost fertiliser among cultivators," the Director said.

He said that there is a worldwide trend to use compost fertiliser in place of chemical fertiliser cultivation.