The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations handed over 780.1 MT of Urea procured through the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (UN-CERF) to the Ministry of Agriculture recently.
Some 15,619 farmers cultivating paddy on landholdings of half an acre or less will receive 50 kgs of urea each, in the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Badulla. Urea will be provided to the farmers free and its distribution will commence this week with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Development.
Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera stressed the Ministry’s commitment to boost agriculture production in Sri Lanka and expressed his appreciation for the support extended. “If paddy farmers receive sufficient agriculture inputs, the food security of the country can be restored. I thank the FAO for working closely with the Government to ensure essential fertiliser and other inputs are provided to the most vulnerable farmers,” he said.
FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan thanked the Government for its close collaboration with the FAO, adding that, “As the FAO, we are working with our partners and advocating at every level to ensure that vulnerable farmers and fishers are not compelled to abandon their livelihoods to feed their families. The Urea provided today will be going to the most vulnerable farmers in four of the poorest districts in the country to strengthen the food security of their households and boost production for the country.”
UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka Hanaa Singer said, “We are focused on supporting and augmenting local food production capacity and delivery systems as much as possible. The Urea provided to the Ministry of Agriculture today will bolster vulnerable livelihoods in the country, and in doing so protect lives in Sri Lanka.”