Decision to reverse ban on agro-chemical imports: Aluthgamage says Govt. sensitive to public opinion

We will not allow the private companies to sell agrochemicals at high prices. We will issue instructions on what type of agrochemicals could be imported,

Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage, a staunch defender of the move to shift from chemical fertiliser to a fully organic fertiliser process, has said the Government had to reverse the decision on the chemical fertiliser import ban in response to concerns expressed by the people.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, the minister vowed to continue with the policy of supporting organic fertiliser cultivation and said it was part of a new thinking based on a concept of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

“As there were concerns by the public and by various groups, the Government, being sensitive to the opinion of the public, decided to allow the private sector to import chemical fertiliser,” he said.

Mr. Aluthgamage said there were a number of farmers who were supportive of the organic fertiliser policy and they were opposing the decision to allow the import of chemical fertliser. “Among those who oppose the reversal are those who invested in organic fertiliser production and farmers who con

verted to organic fertiliser. There was an economy building around this trade. There was a good demand and a price for organic material such as cow dung. Therefore, these persons are now critical of us reversing the decision," he said.

The minister said farmers had been assured that they would be provided subsidies for organic farming, but those opposing the move and reverting to chemical fertiliser would not be entitled to subsidy.He said that in keeping with the Government's policy, as many as 650,000 farmers had decided to go ahead with their cultivation using organic fertiliser.

Dispelling fears that agrochemicals would be imported in unlimited quantities now, Minister Aluthgamage said a regulatory system would be put in place to control the trade.

“We will not allow the private companies to sell agrochemicals at high prices. We will issue instructions on what type of agrochemicals could be imported,” he said.

The ministry would also introduce a system of testing the soil and issuing a certificate on the suitability of the agrochemical use,while the Fertilizer Secretariat would be monitoring the distribution of supplies.

This means farmers would not be allowed to use chemical fertiliser for cultivation according to their wishes, he added.

Minister Aluthgamage said the move to adopt organic fertiliser was a progressive step and had widespread support, but there was opposition over the implementation process.

The President supported not only the concept of converting to organic cultivation, but also other new proposals such as renewable energy projects, the minister said, pointing out the President had achieved results in his drive to crack down on drug trafficking, reduce the expenditure of the Presidential Secretariat, minimise the number of vehicles used by ministers and suspend the import of vehicles for parliamentarians.

“Therefore organic fertiliser conversation was not the only change he made,” he added .

Mr. Aluthgamage said that on a personal note the move was politically disadvantageous to him as he was the Minister of Agriculture, but said he would stand by the concept as it was beneficial to the country.