By The Ministry of Agriculture has announced that a consignment of about 65,000MT of urea fertilizer bought under the Indian credit line is expected in the country around July 10th.
The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has had to hide away from farmers clambering for chemical fertilizer.
The vessel carrying the consignment has left Oman yesterday.
Currently, farmers have had to pay up to LKR 50,000 for a bag of fertilizer and the fertilizer that is to be distributed is to be sold at LKR 10,000.
Fertilizer on the way
The consignment was purchased through a USD 55 million credit facility provided by the Exim Bank of India.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the fuel shortage should not hamper distribution as a request for 20.000 liters has been made and 20.000 lorries have signed up for transportation.
The government will be using some of the fertilizer for i’s own cultivation programs. Minister Amaraweera said that there would be enough rice in the country as there was a 40,000MT buffer stock.
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksha publicly admitted that it was a mistake to ban the use and import of chemical fertilizer.
