Sri Lanka President stresses green agriculture, no change in government policy
Sri Lanka’s President Gotabaya Rajapaksa stressed that there will be no change in government policy on agriculture and the country’s agriculture policy is only for a green agriculture that focuses on the sole use of organic fertilizers.
President Rajapaksa said that the government will only
distribute organic fertilizer and provide subsidies only for organic farming.
The farmers should be properly educated. It is also vital to identify the
chemical fertilizer mafia that exists when implementing this. The President
emphasized that the commitment of the officials was essential to make the right
policy victorious.
The President made this observation at a special discussion
held at the Presidential Secretariat this morning (22) regarding the
cultivation of the Maha Season and the supply of organic fertilizer.
The President inquired from officials at the district level
about the cultivation of paddy and other crops in all parts of the country. The
heavy rains that prevailed have reduced the yield of many crops including
vegetables. Moreover, the delay in the distribution of organic manure affected
the cultivation activities during the Maha Season. However, at the district
level, the cultivation activities commenced in nearly 70% of the total
agricultural lands, the officials said.
The President pointed out that the reason behind farmers
organizing protests and delaying cultivation was that they have not been
properly educated. The President expressed his displeasure to the officials for
not accurately educating the farmers. The President emphasized that the officials
should work to find answers on behalf of the agitating farmers in accordance
with the green agriculture policy and added that there is no obstacle for the
officials who do not agree with the government policy to leave.
The President also said that the support of a team that
works clearly according to their conscience is needed for the success of this
program.
Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, State Minister
Shasheendra Rajapaksa, Governors Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke
and Anuradha Yahampath, Secretary to the President P.B. Jayasundera, Principal
Advisor to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Heads of the Ministry of
Agriculture and its affiliated line agencies and organic fertilizer
manufacturers were also present on the occasion.
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