Subsidised fertiliser for farmers

by Mohammed NAALIR

The Government has started the distribution of fertiliser at subsidised rates to paddy farmers for the Yala season, Agriculture Services and Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena told the Sunday Observer .

The Minister said a 50 kilo pack of fertiliser used in paddy cultivation is distributed to farmers at a concessionary price of Rs. 350 by the Government on a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

This pack is sold at Rs. 3,000 in the open market, according to Minister Chandrasena.

He said the Government started the subsidised fertiliser distribution program for paddy cultivation last week. Varieties of fertiliser used in paddy cultivation are now available at authorised fertiliser agents and agriculture centres, the Minister said.

Minister Chandrasena further said the Government will distribute a 50 kilo pack of chemical fertiliser used in other crop cultivation (not paddy) at a concessionary price of Rs. 1,200.

Chandrasena noted that the Government spends a huge amount of money on the fertiliser subsidy every year.

The Government distributes fertiliser to farmers on a concessionary basis to develop the country's agriculture sector under the Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu program and Divi Neguma programs implemented under the Mahinda Chinthana national development concept, Minister Chandrasena said.