Systematic way to distribute fertilizer subsidy

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr

All arrangements have been made to distribute the Government fertilizer subsidy systematically and in a transparent manner, Anuradhapura District Agrarian Services Deputy Commissioner R K M R B Ratnayake said.

In the Maha season paddy is cultivated in 120,000 acres in Anuradhapura district and 50,000 metric tons of fertilizer subsidy is estimated to be required to issue to the farmers through 40 Agrarian Service Centres.

The Deputy Commissioner said there are complaints that certain Farmer Organizations and Agriculture Research and Production Assistants had imposed various limits and criteria in issuing the subsidy.

“It has been reported in some areas that the farmers were ordered to buy some carbonic fertilizer to get qualified for the subsidy. It has also been bring to our notice that some ARPAS wouldn’t issue the farmers with receipts after farmers have been offered their quota of the subsidy,” Deputy Commissioner said. He also requested the farmers to bring such discrepancies to his notice.

In the meantime it has been discovered that in some instances farmers insert false and exaggerated information with regard to their paddy lands to get more fertilizer under the subsidy.

The Deputy Commissioner said the grass roots level field officers concerned have been directed to be on alert to avoid such irregularities.

“There are incidents that several farmer organizations at their own have rejected the subsidy applications quoting various explanatory reasons.

The fertilizer subsidy is a brainchild of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. No farmer organization or any other agency could deprive the farmer of that facility, Ratnayake emphasised.