State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara has requested President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to lift the ban on chemical fertiliser.
Speaking to media in Colombo, the State Minister said farmers are facing many difficulties due to the shortage of fertilizer.
The State Minister said farmers have been severely affected adding that 20,000MT of a 96,000MT consignment of organic fertiliser is due to arrive in the island from India.
He however said a date for the stocks arrival in the country has not been announced.
State Minister Jayasekera said the stock that arrives has to be tested claiming that a consignment from the Chinese firm was rejected as it was determined to be harmful.
The State Minister noted that 8,000MT of organic fertiliser is required for farmers in Ampara and 10,000MT for farmers in Kurunegala.
Therefore, Jayasekera proposed to the President to grasp the prevailing situation and allow the use of chemical fertiliser or introduce a 50/50 use of both chemical and organic fertiliser.
