ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is ending a ban on the import of chemical fertilizer and agro-chemicals and the private sector will be allowed to import them from today, Agriculture Minister Mahidananda Aluthgamage said.
“From today chemical fertilizer, fungicides pesticides, and weedicide imports are allowed,” Minister Aluthgamage said.
“Government subsidies, seeds, guaranteed price for paddy, technology and market is only for green Agriculture.”
He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa introduced a cabinet paper on April 26 on green agriculture and based on that a gazette was issued to ban the import of chemical fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides and weedicides.
Though many said it was a good policy, farmers had opposed.
“Chemical fertilizer can be taken from the open market,” Minister Mahindanda said.
“There is free education, and free healthcare and also fee paying education.”