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Misconception campaign against liquid fertiliser?

27 Dec 2021

BY Buddhika Samaraweera The National Fertiliser Secretariat (NFS) has claimed that certain farmers’ refusal to use fertilisers, including the liquid fertilisers that are currently being provided through Agrarian Service Centres, is an organised act aimed at spreading misconception about such fertilisers. Speaking to the media yesterday (27), NFS Director Chandana Lokuhewage said: “Farmers have a duty to apply these fertilisers to their crops and see. However, certain farmers were seen applying these fertilisers to one location without considering the due procedure. I see it as something which is being done in an organised manner, with the aim of socialising a misconception about these fertilisers.” He further stated that these fertilisers are procured under the Government’s programme for eco-friendly agriculture on the recommendation of a committee headed by Department of Agriculture Director General (DG) Dr. Ajantha De Silva. He also added that the fertilisers have been subjected to approved laboratory tests. Speaking further, Lokuhewage said if a farmer does not need or does not trust the fertilisers provided by the Government, they can return the fertilisers to the Agrarian Service Centres. Rejecting the locally manufactured liquid fertilisers that are currently being distributed under the Government’s policy towards establishing a green agriculture, farmers in several areas have demanded the supply of chemical fertilisers as soon as possible, The Morning reported last week. A locally produced liquid fertiliser distribution programme was held on 19 December through the Agrarian Service Centres in the Rajanganaya area, but farmers did not accept the fertilisers, saying it would have been more useful to replace such liquid fertilisers with a small amount of urea fertiliser instead. Recently, it was reported that the locally manufactured liquid fertilisers distributed in this manner had a foul smell and that the packaging containers had exploded. However, claiming that the locally manufactured liquid fertilisers have not caused harm to anyone, Lokuhewage, on an earlier occasion, stated that it was not fair to spread misinformation about such fertilisers based on minor issues. “Solid fertiliser is also produced using animal waste and they also have a foul smell. These liquid fertilisers are made using fish waste and also stink. But certain parties take a small issue concerning locally produced fertiliser and spread a lot of misinformation. That is not fair,” he said.


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