800 food containers stuck in port; importers seek long-term solution

Importers are demanding a long-term solution to prevent piling up of essential food containers at the Colombo Port.

The move came amidst a delay of clearing more than 1,300 containers containing essential food items, including sugar, due to the shortage of US dollars to clear the goods.

Customs Director General Major General (Retd) G.V. Ravirpiya told the Sunday Times yesterday that some 800 of these containers were carrying food items and of them about 400 were carrying essential food items.

Without completing the transactions by the importer, the goods could not be released, he said.

On Friday, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa issued a directive to clear some of the containers. However, the directive will apply to only some 500 containers of sugar.

Importers during a meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday said a long- term solution was needed to ensure that sufficient US dollars were available for imports and failure to do so would lead to further food shortages and price increases.

Sri Lanka’s agricultural authorities, under intense pressure from the government to import the 96,000 MT of fertiliser for distribution among farmers as the Maha season is already underway, however, want to ensure proper analysis is carried out before the substance is released for use in paddy cultivation during this period which generates the largest harvest for the year.

It is only after initial official laboratory inspection that the Government of Sri Lanka will provide the green light for the manufacturer (Qingdao Seawin Biotech) to send from there ( China) the f er t i l i s e r, Agriculture Department Director General Dr. Ajantha De Silva told the Business Times.

He noted that following the first test sample report, which even the Minister said is not the right sample, they are awaiting a second sample. The first sample was a contaminated one, according to the Minister.

In this respect on Thursday seven samples were obtained and sent for testing on Friday, Dr. De Silva confirmed adding that they had arrived in a sealed manner. He said that the testing will take about 4- 5 days before the results can be released.

The first test sample report on the imported organic fertiliser issued by the National Plant Quarantine Service (NPQS) to the National Fer t i l i s e r Secretariat (NFS) on September 8 and which revealed the presence of harmful microorganism Erwinia, made the entire country wake up to the reality of the issues surrounding organic farming.

If microorganisms are found in the imported fertiliser that is to be distributed among farmers it could spread and cause harm to plants and humans. Moreover, in line with international laws and the local Plant and Animal Quarantine Act it is stated that microorganisms cannot be moved between countries either, experts say.

Subsequently on September 14, a second test report released by the internationally accredited laboratory Schutter Global Inspection and Survey Co. Ltd and hand- picked by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution for testing of the fertiliser at the point of loading and on the production line (in China) proved they contain Colifor m.

Scientists state that E.Coli and Erwinia are said to belong to the category of Coliform bacteria, both of which are harmful to plants and humans.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that there is political pressure exerted on the officials to ensure that this particular stock of fertiliser should be imported as the Maha season has already commenced and in line with the government’s policy of converting to a fully organic farming system in the country.

Agr i c u l t u re Ministry Secretary Mahesh Gammanpila however pointed out that the stock of fertiliser for distribution among farmers is scheduled to arrive by the second week of October.

He noted that farmers have been given a grant of Rs.12,500 per hectare up to two hectares to produce their own organic fertiliser and added that they are trying to provide them with better quality fertiliser in addition to their production.

The government has decided to import the fertiliser as a temporary measure until people are ready to use their own homegrown fertiliser, he explained.

According to the procurement rules for all samples, they have to be checked in two places namely at the point of loading by an independent survey and again by the Sri Lankan authorities by NPQS, until then the fertiliser cannot be released.

Meanwhile, Star Trading, that is a par t of Val e n cy International, has informed the Business Times that they were not awarded the contract, contrary to earlier reports that it was awarded the tender.