Amid the prevailing COVID -19 emergency, arrangements have been made to issue free fertilizer to farmers who engage in the Yala season 2020 cultivation in the Ampara district.
Under the scheme, a farmer is entitled to receive Urea 82 kgs, TSP 19.200 kgs and MOP 21.200 kgs per acre, through farmer organizations and Agrarian Services Centres, Addalaichenai Agrarian Services Centre Divisional Officer, A.L.Ashraff said.
The free issue of fertilizer to farmers is an election pledge given by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in his election manifesto.
The application form for the fertilizer, issued free may be obtained from farmer organizations and should be handed over to the respective Divisional Officer attached to the Agrarian Services Centres.
The farming population is grateful to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for introducing the scheme.
There was an inordinate delay in the distribution of fertilizer during the previous season, as some of the farmer organizations did not function properly. Hence, farmers were compelled to obtain their fertilizer from private fertilizer sales centres at an increased price.