Action taken to distribute urea

By Ifham Nizam

The Power and Energy Ministry will take steps to release 125,000 litres of diesel for the distribution of urea fertiliser provided by the Indian government for paddy cultivation during the Yala season.

A Power and Energy Ministry official told The Island that they were looking into the request made yesterday by Agriculture, Wildlife and Wildlife Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

The government will take delivery of 65,000 tonnes of urea for the 2022 Yala season on 06 July under the Indian credit line.

The Agriculture Ministry has initiated a formal programme to distribute urea countrywide as soon as the consignment is received.

This stock of urea was ordered by the government of India from Oman for paddy and maize cultivation in that country.

Out of this stock of fertilizer, 50,000 tonnes will be given for paddy cultivation and 10,000 tonnes for maize cultivation. After receiving the stock of urea on 06 July, arrangements have been made to release it to the farming community through Agrarian Service Centres throughout the country within a few days. Arrangements have been made to provide a bag of urea for Rs. 10,000 at the request of farmers’ organisations.

At present, the selling price of a bag of urea fertiliser in the market ranges from Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 42,000.

“As soon as we receive this stock of fertiliser, we have already ordered the required bags to be packed in 50 kg bags”, a Ministry spokesman said.

Urea fertiliser will also be distributed by the state-owned Lanka Commercial Fertiliser Company and Lanka Fertiliser Company to facilitate farmers throughout the country. It is already planned to use 2,000 lorries for the task.

This stock of fertiliser will be distributed countywide wide between 10 and 15 July.