President Outlines Measures as Officials Confirm Sufficient Urea for Yala Season, But Expert Warns of Overall Shortage and Maha Season Concerns

Professor Buddhi Marambe, an expert in agriculture, has stated that Sri Lanka's overall fertilizer reserves are insufficient for annual crop cultivation. He highlighted that while 988,000 metric tons of urea are required for 450,000 hectares of paddy cultivation, only 102,000 metric tons are currently in reserve. Professor Marambe warned that the urea shortage could become a significant issue for the upcoming Maha season. He added that although mud and Bandi fertilizers are adequate for the current Yala season, they might also pose a problem for the Maha season.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has outlined measures to manage fertilizer supply, stabilize urea prices, and expand subsidies. The Department of Agriculture currently holds 14,000 metric tonnes of urea imported at previous prices, with private companies also possessing stocks. Separately, Dhammika Ranatunga, Commissioner General of the Department of Agrarian Development, confirmed that sufficient fertilizer is available for the Yala season. He also stated that a 50kg bag of urea fertilizer will be provided to farmers at a price between Rs. 9,900 and Rs. 10,200. The Consumer Affairs Authority is reportedly conducting raids on shops selling fertilizer at inflated prices.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne announced that the fertilizer subsidy will be credited directly to farmers' accounts at once, providing Rs. 50,000 per two hectares. He also stated that approximately 80,000 metric tons of urea are anticipated for the current Yala season. Separately, it was reported that a sack of fertilizer issued from Colombo warehouses will cost Rs. 9,500, with plans to cover transportation costs.