Former Director-Media of the Department of Agriculture KB Gunaratne says the public will die of starvation if authorities do not promptly resolve issues within the agriculture sector.
Speaking to media in Kandy he said farmers are burdened with many issues including a shortage of fertiliser.
Gunaratne said the yala season began at the beginning of April.
He added the President addressing the new Cabinet of Ministers on the 18th of April accepted that he made a mistake in switching to organic fertiliser and banning the use of chemical fertiliser.
Gunaratne therefore said the President must now make provisions to provide fertiliser for farmers and charged that there has been no update in this regard.
He claimed the maha season was affected by the President’s decision which led to harvest dropping by 50%.
He also warned of a rice shortage emerging.
