Moves to stop fertilizer imports

Booost for local fertilizer industry:

Chamikara WEERASINGHE

Moves are underway to stop fertilizer imports, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena said.

Addressing a press conference at the Government Information Department, he said his Ministry will take steps to stop organic fertilizer imports in a move to promote the local fertilizer industry.

The Ceylon Fertilizer Company Limited is introducing new locally produced fertilizer, the Minister said.

The company provides fertilizer to 1,000,000 domestic cultivations under a project launched by the Ministry to encourage home gardening, Chandrasena said.

"The company also provides fertilizer subsidies to paddy, tea and rubber cultivations in the country", the Minister said.

It also supplies organic fertilizer to vegetable, fruit and flower cultivations.

Minister Chandrasena said the fertilizer varieties produced by the Company are Government certified for their quality and standard.

The fertilizer types are known as Corporation Fertilizer. Cultivators can obtain them from the market across the country, he said.

Agrarian Services and Wildlife Ministry Secretary Udeni Wickremesinghe, Wildlife Director General Dr Chandrawansa Pathjirana, Agrarian Services Director Ravindra Hevavitharana and Lanka Fertilizer Company Ltd Chairman Buddhika Madihahewa were present.