Courtesy Hiru News

State Minister Duminda Dissanayake stated that steps have been taken to release 5,000 metric tons of urea previously imported to Sri Lanka for maize farmers in the Anuradhapura District.

Steps have been taken to provide a stock of urea fertilizer to the Anuradhapura district against the backdrop of the government initiating the promotion of organic farming in the country by suspending the import of chemical fertilizers.

Meanwhile, the Eravur Fertilizer Depot in the Batticaloa District has received stocks of fertilizer required for paddy cultivation during the Maha season using organic fertilizer.

The district has stored 7,275 liters of liquid fertilizer, 612 metric tons of potassium chloride, and 3,300 liters of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizer for the fertilizer requirement, and they will be released to the farms from next Monday.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage addressing a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Center today through online technology stated that some ministries are following a silent policy in encouraging the cultivation of organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizer.

Accordingly, the Minister made an allegation against the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment.

The Minister also stated that attention has been paid to import a stock of pesticides and fungicides to combat a pest menace.

State Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa was also present at the media briefing and the two Ministers answered questions raised by journalists.