March 30, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has moved to limit the distribution of urea fertiliser exclusively to paddy cultivation, as authorities grapple with reduced national reserves linked to ongoing disruptions in global supply chains.
The Department of Agrarian Development announced that, for the upcoming 2026 Yala season, stocks of unmixed urea will be allocated solely to rice farmers through Agrarian Service Centres. The decision is intended to safeguard the country’s staple food production at a time of heightened uncertainty in international markets.
Officials have issued directives to Agrarian Development Officers across the island, instructing them to strictly regulate distribution based on the extent of land under paddy cultivation. Fertiliser will be released only after verification, either through seasonal planning meetings or field-level confirmation of crops.
The department indicated that an existing database of registered farmers will be used to match fertiliser allocations with cultivated acreage, ensuring a more transparent and accountable system. This approach is also expected to minimise misuse and prevent over-allocation.
Authorities have further called on local officers to carefully manage available stocks to avoid shortages during the cultivation period. Ensuring uninterrupted paddy farming remains a key priority, given its central role in national food security.
While the restriction may affect growers of other crops, officials maintain that the temporary measure is necessary to maintain stable rice production during a period of constrained supply.