(UTV|COLOMBO) – The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the provision of fertilizer free of charge for paddy farmers from the yala season.
Co-Cabinet Spokesman Minister Bandula Gunawardana speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing said all farmers who have at least 2 hectares of paddy fields will be granted this concession.
The Minister said a Cabinet Paper that proposes the provision of fertilizer such as urea and super phosphate was approved during the Cabinet of Ministers meeting held yesterday.
Minister Gunawardana admitting that a shortage of fertilizer exists said, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa during the meeting explained that fertilizer importers have not been their dues by the former government over several months.
The Minister said the Cabinet was informed that between Rs.6-9 billion has not been paid.
The Minister said Rs.3 billion was settled through funds obtained through the Vote on Account.
Accordingly, he stated that the National Fertilizer Secretariat has informed there will be no shortage of fertilizer for paddy farming in the next couple of months claiming that fertilizer for other crops will be imported in the near future.