Maldives opposes Darusman Report

Suraj A Bandara

The government on a directive from President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to grant a fertilizer subsidy to all food crops with effect from midnight yesterday.

The fertilizer subsidy given to paddy farmers will continue, while farmers cultivating other food crops will receive a 50 Kg bag of mixed fertilizer at Rs. 1,300 while unmixed fertilizer would be available at Rs. 1,200 with effect from midnight yesterday.

The price of a 50 kg subsidized bag of fertilizer will be available for paddy farmers at Rs. 350.

Earlier, a 50 kilogram bag of fertilizer was sold between Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 each.

President Rajapaksa took this decision at a meeting attended by Finance Ministry Secretary Dr P B Jayasundara at the Finance Ministry yesterday. The government will spend Rs 400 million annually to implement this project.

According to President Rajapaksa's directive, all paddy farmers will benefit by this fertilizer concession.

The government expects more contribution for farmers to promote agriculture.

These subsidized fertilizer will be available in all government and private shops authorized to sell fertilizer from today.