By Nimal Gunathilake

The harvesting season has begun in the eastern, Uva and the dry zone, but farmers have not received fuel needed to operate harvesting machines, according to former Provincial Governor Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon.

“These are the farmers who cultivated their lands despite the shortages of agro-chemicals have been left without fuel to operate harvesting machines,” Tennakoon said.In the East, farmers in Mandur, Pillumalay, Wellawali, Eravur, Ottamawadi, Pottuvil and Akkaraipattu under minor irrigation schemes, were ready to harvest their crop, Tennakoon said.

“This is the case in many minor irrigation schemes in other agricultural areas as well. A combined harvester needs at least 20 litres for an acre. Thus, in the coming 40 days, these agricultural areas will need at least 3,000 bowsers of fuel. Is this possible? Are the ministers even aware of this?” he said.

Tennakoon said that the government’s agricultural policy has been the worst in modern Sri Lankan history.

“At first, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promised to give fertiliser free of charge, then he banned it overnight without preparing adequate amounts of compost or other organic inputs. Conservative estimates place the drop in rice production at 30%. The production of tea fell by 18%, and this will affect our foreign exchange earnings,” Tennakoon said.

Tennakoon said that due to protests, the government had announced that it would ease the ban on agro-chemicals. But the government had not purchased any fertiliser and was dependent on donations. In 2021, Verite Research conducted a survey on the organic fertiliser policy, and initially the buy-in was high. Almost two-thirds of the respondents had agreed that the country should switch over to organic agriculture. About 64% of the farmers surveyed said ‘yes’ to the question: “Do you agree that Sri Lanka should transition to 100% organic agriculture?”

The research also showed that most farmers lacked necessary knowledge and guidance as regards chemical fertiliser-free agriculture. Nearly two-thirds of all respondents said they had not received any guidance on how to cultivate crops organically, Tennakoon said.