Sri Lanka to draw new laws for fertilizer to ensure transformation in to organic fertilizer
Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers has reportedly granted approval to introduce a new Fertiliser Act replacing the existing legislation enacted in 1988 to fully endorse the shift from chemical fertlizers to organic material for sustainable agriculture.
The proposal to introduce a new piece of legislation was presented by Sri Lanka’s Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Althugamage. The move was reportedly initiated after the government of Sri Lanka had identified various issues in the existing legislation in terms of fertiliser production, importation, packaging and distribution as well as regulation after implementing the new policy on organic fertiliser.
“There are certain problems with distribution of fertiliser among farmers throughout the country. Necessary action is being taken to resolve issues in the immediate future,” Cabinet Co-Spokesman and Plantations Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has told the post-Cabinet meeting media briefing.
The Minister has also admitted that the transition period from chemical to organic fertiliser was challenging and has reportedly called on the farming community to be accommodative and help the government to create a toxic-free sustainable agriculture for the benefit of future generations.
The government has also announced that it would provide compensation for farmers if their crops or incomes were impacted during the transition period.
OSL take:
The government of Sri Lanka is committed to transforming the country’s agriculture sector from an agro chemical based one to organic fertilizer. This new policy has opened up a host of new business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector. From providing organic fertilizer to increasing the manufacturing capacity have all provided business/investment opportunities in the agriculture sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20210628/Z_1 |