Minister warns farmers of misleading propaganda

Colombo: Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday requested the farmers not be misled by various false propaganda campaigns launched by the UNP and the JVP on the fertiliser subsidy and Government's paddy purchasing mechanism to gain their narrow political objectives.

The Minister said the Government has not taken any decision whatsoever to curtail or make any changes on the fertiliser subsidy. This is only a complete false propaganda campaign carried out by the UNP and the JVP to gain narrow political milage.

It was the UNP which took measures to curtail the fertiliser subsidy of farmers and closed down the Paddy Marketing Board. The Minister said the Government's paddy purchasing

mechanism was commenced through the Paddy Marketing Board three weeks ago. On the directive of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Government has also commenced paddy purchasing activities through the District Secretaries.

Under the Government's national paddy purchasing mechanism, a kilo of Samba paddy is purchased at Rs.30 while a Kilo of Nadu paddy is purchased at Rs.28. Out of the total cost of urea fertiliser, 96 per cent is paid by the Government.

A 50Kg bag of Urea fertiliser is given to farmers at Rs.350.

Therefore farmers have to pay only 4 per cent out of this total cost spent on fertiliser.

As the Government has not taken any measures to curtail the fertiliser subsidy, Minister Sirisena requests the farmers not be misled by these false propaganda by the Opposition to gain narrow political objectives, the release added.