• GoSL-China talks for next season’s fertiliser

The Agrarian Development Department has decided to restrict the issuance of urea fertiliser exclusively to paddy cultivation, citing limited national stocks due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

According to the Department, unmixed urea fertiliser for the 2026 Yala season will be distributed solely for rice cultivation through Agrarian Service Centres. The Department has informed all Agrarian Development Officers island-wide of this decision and instructed them to issue fertiliser strictly based on the extent of land cultivated by each farmer.

Fertiliser will be released to farmers based on determinations made at seasonal cultivation meetings or upon the verification of paddy cultivation. This process will utilise farmer data already recorded in the system to ensure the quantity issued corresponds directly to the verified cultivated area.

Furthermore, the Department has directed all Agrarian Development Officers to manage existing fertiliser stocks efficiently to ensure that paddy cultivation during the 2026 Yala season proceeds without interruption.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has announced that discussions are underway between the Sri Lankan Government and China to procure fertiliser for State fertiliser companies for the upcoming cultivation seasons. The Department also assured that adequate fertiliser stocks are currently available within the country to meet the requirements for the imminent season.

These remarks were made at a special press briefing held yesterday (30) at the Government Information Department, convened to outline steps taken by various State institutions to address challenges arising from tensions in the Middle East.

Addressing the media, Commissioner General of Agrarian Development Dhammika Ranatunga said that the Government has moved to issue fertiliser to farmers based strictly on their land extent, exclusively through Agrarian Service Centres across the country, as a measure to prevent stockpiling. He added that the Government is holding discussions with China to purchase stocks for the next season.

“For the areas that have commenced work for the next season, including Ampara and Hambantota, fertiliser stocks have already been distributed. Agrarian Service Centres in other areas will also receive them soon,” he said. “For further requirements, we are having discussions with China,” he added.

He further explained that three types of fertiliser are used in paddy cultivation, Triple Super Phosphate, Urea, and Muriate of Potash. According to him, the Fertiliser Secretariat has calculated all fertiliser stocks held by State fertiliser companies and based on that report, a decision has been made on the quantity of fertiliser to be allocated to each area, and these are expected to be issued in line with the recommendations of the Agriculture Ministry.

A 50 kilogram bag of fertiliser can be purchased within a price range of Rs. 9,900 to Rs. 10,200, with the Rs. 300 variance attributed to transport charges.

He also outlined an alternative system to provide fuel to farmers without the use of quick response (QR) codes. According to the system, based on the recommendation of the District Secretariat, 15 litres of fuel will be provided for harvesting and 30 litres for ploughing. For water pumps and agrarian machinery, fuel will be issued according to the requirements of each machine.

He also said that the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has requested the introduction of a separate QR system to facilitate those who require fuel on a regular basis. “While that system will be implemented soon, fuel is currently being distributed based on the recommendations of regional officers,” he said.

However, the National Agrarian Unity organisation accused the Government of providing false assurances for the season, claiming that there are not enough stocks within the country and that even within those stocks, only one third will be issued for paddy cultivation. The President of the association, Anuradha Tennakoon, urged the Government to reveal accurate data to the public.

The agricultural sector in the country has been among the hardest hit by the issues surrounding fuel rationing and QR code systems, with various agrarian unions persistently calling for practical solutions to ensure uninterrupted farming operations.