Courtesy Hiru News

The President briefed the farmers’ representatives on the measures to be taken by the government to address the use of organic fertilizers.

The President has pointed out that this was not a sudden decision and this initiative was launched to fulfil a promise made in his Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour” policy statement, as the presidential candidate.

Farmers’ representatives shared their views during a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (July 01). According to the PMD, the organization comprises 1.1 million farmers, 17,000 farmers organizations and 563 Agrarian Service Centres.

The previous governments, on a number of occasions, had tried to convert into organic agriculture, however, the reasons for their failure would be studied and the new programme will be implemented rectifying those errors, the President said.

Some people try to point this out as a reverse journey, however, the use of organic fertilizers, which is a new trend in the entire world, would take the country on a new path of agrarian economy, he pointed out further.

Many who speak out against the programme are referring to prices of fruits and vegetables, which are produced using organic fertilizers. But they don’t pay attention to the farmers suffering from the use of chemical fertilizers.”

The President spoke of the government’s plans to create an environment where the farmers will be able to receive the benefit of the non  importation of chemical fertilizers, while protecting the future generations from non-communicable diseases.

The President stated that, in order to implement the programme continuously and successfully, the required amount of organic fertilizer including herbicides and pesticides will be made available to the farmers in the same manner the chemical fertilizers were provided. At the same time, local entrepreneurs and industrialists will be given the opportunity to produce the required fertilizer locally. The farmers can also produce the organic fertilizer they need. The government has made plans to provide the funds required for this purpose, the PMD went on to say.

<strong>The President has assured that the income earned by the farmers will not be reduced and if it does, the government would compensate so the farmer will not have to suffer

During the meeting, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage handed over the Farmers Insurance Scheme” to the President which was suspended during the previous government and will resume from today, according to the PMD.

The minister also revealed that the government is focusing on increasing the ‘farmer’s pension’. He guaranteed to take immediate steps to construct 105 new warehouses to store paddy, to provide financial assistance to Farmers’ Banks and to update the agricultural database expeditiously.

The President has also given the approval to increase the upper limit for contracts for farmers’ organisations from Rs. 2 million to Rs. 10 million for undertaking projects to rehabilitate tanks and canals. It was also decided to expand the scope for direct involvement of farmers when selling harvest at economic centres.<br /><br />