Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera says TSP fertiliser will be provided to farmers at a lower price than the current market rate for the upcoming Yala season, following the issuance of a Gazette Notification.
A discussion was held at the Presidential Secretariat that addressed various agriculture-related topics, including fertiliser strategies, paddy marketing issues, and the prevention of yellowing in paddy cultivation.
The Department of Agriculture said the reduction in the use of TSP is the main cause of yellowing in paddy cultivation.
To prevent this disease during the upcoming Yala season, measures will be taken to increase the use of TSP.
The discussion also highlighted the different viewpoints promoted by organic and chemical fertiliser companies, and the importance of reaching a common viewpoint was emphasised by various scholars and institutions.
Special attention was given to the use of fertiliser in the upcoming Yala season, and the Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake stressed on the importance of providing farmers the opportunity to purchase fertiliser at a lower rate than the previous season.
Representatives from fertiliser companies proposed that the Agriculture Department recommend suitable crops and agricultural inputs to farmers to increase production at lower costs.
During the discussion, the Minister of Agriculture noted that despite the challenges faced by farmers, they were able to produce a better paddy harvest in the last Yala and Maha seasons in line with market requirements.
The possibility of selling old rice in warehouses as animal feed was also discussed, with the potential to increase the price of rice and decrease the prices of eggs and chicken in the market.
