The Government has earmarked approximately Rs.11 billion as a subsidy for distribution among farmers who will be cultivating paddy during this forthcoming Yala Season to purchase fertiliser. A subsidy of Rs.20,000 per hectare and Rs.40, 000 for two hectares will be provided.
Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers has been received to provide this amount as a voucher and it will be issued so that farmers can purchase Bundi fertiliser or organic fertiliser according to their requirements.
The Government Press has been entrusted with the task of printing these vouchers. It will take the Government several weeks to provide farmers with several hundred thousand vouchers imprinted with a special watermark .
The Minister said at present, the price of urea fertiliser in the market has dropped to Rs.9,000. Therefore, apart from the urea fertiliser provided by two Government fertiliser companies, farmers can purchase urea fertiliser from the open market at an even lower price.
“ We also provided a free Mud fertiliser ( TSP ) to all farmers. In the coming weeks, they will need Bundi fertiliser so that with this voucher, they can purchase Bundi fertiliser or organic fertiliser if needed, “.the Minister said.