Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister announces shift away from fertilizer distribution during Maha Season, introduces farmer subsidies

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, has announced plans to shift away from the distribution of fertilizer during the ‘Maha Season’ and provide financial allocations for farmers under a new subsidy system. In a recent statement, the minister revealed that the government will no longer be involved in fertilizer distribution activities, and instead, the relevant activities will be entrusted to the private sector.

According to the minister, the government spent a total of Rs. 6.5 billion for the distribution of urea fertilizers and Muriate of Potash (MOP) fertilizer, also known as ‘Bandi Pohora,’ during this year’s Maha cultivation season. In addition, another Rs. 2 billion was spent for the distribution of Triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer in the Yala cultivation season.

The new program aims to provide financial allocations as subsidies to farmers to allow them to purchase the necessary items they require. The government’s decision to shift its focus from fertilizer distribution to financial subsidies is expected to bring a new level of efficiency and effectiveness to the agriculture industry while also providing much-needed relief to farmers Sri Lanka’s Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, has announced plans to shift away from the distribution of fertilizer during the ‘Maha Season’ and provide financial allocations for farmers under a new subsidy system. In a recent statement, the minister revealed that the government will no longer be involved in fertilizer distribution activities, and instead, the relevant activities will be entrusted to the private sector.

According to the minister, the government spent a total of Rs. 6.5 billion for the distribution of urea fertilizers and Muriate of Potash (MOP) fertilizer, also known as ‘Bandi Pohora,’ during this year’s Maha cultivation season. In addition, another Rs. 2 billion was spent for the distribution of Triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer in the Yala cultivation season.

The new program aims to provide financial allocations as subsidies to farmers to allow them to purchase the necessary items they require. The government’s decision to shift its focus from fertilizer distribution to financial subsidies is expected to bring a new level of efficiency and effectiveness to the agriculture industry while also providing much-needed relief to farmers