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Fertiliser shortage: Cabinet nod sought for million-dollar mineral import 

30 Jan 2022

By Skandha Gunasekara Despite dwindling foreign reserves, the Government may now have to release close to $ 30 million to import fertiliser for the Yala season, if Cabinet grants approval for the move, The Sunday Morning learns.  National Fertiliser Secretariat (NFS) Director Mahesh Gammanpila told The Sunday Morning that they expected to import 45,000 metric tonnes of potassium chloride for the upcoming cultivation season. “Our plan is to import potassium chloride as a mineral, but the Cabinet must grant approval first. The draft Cabinet paper has been prepared. We have estimated that we will need 45,000 metric tonnes of potassium chloride as a mineral for the Yala season.”  According to Gammanpila, the cost of fertiliser is higher than last year, with the cost estimated at over $ 650 per metric tonne. Increased freight charges will also further impact costs.  “Last time we brought it down for around $ 400 per metric tonne, but it will be more than $ 650 this time, as freight charges will also be over $ 100 per metric tonne,” Gammanpila opined.  He said that currently only the procurement of locally-manufactured organic fertiliser was being carried out and that importation would begin post Cabinet approval.  “We have not started to distribute any procurement documents to international producers. At present we have started procurement for locally-produced organic fertiliser.”   


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