President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa says that the Army will continue its organic fertilizer program in the next Yala season as farmers have not been properly educated on the use of organic fertilizer.
“I gave fertilizer free of charge and then increased the guaranteed price for paddy. Organic cultivation is not just collecting leaves, it has a lot of technology. But I admit that we did not come to these farmers and explain what they should be doing. At the beginning of the harvest; I do not think it will decrease. If this fertilizer is applied properly we can get the same harvest. It is non-toxic. Here’s what I want to do. This is a bit difficult. But unfortunately, our people did not come and explain to the farmers that this is the type of fertilizer that is used in this way.
Now I am using the army for this Yala season. There could be a few organic fertilizers we can not use yet. We can use some familiar fertilizers like urea for a certain time. But we have to gradually organize this, looking at the lives of these little kids. We can do it, we can get a better harvest, we can get a good price for it.”
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said this when he met a group of farmers in Siyambalanduwa yesterday (07) and exchanged views with them. The farmers stated that they would definitely trust the President.