November 20, Colombo (LNW):Agriculture Commissioner General Rohana Rajapaksa announced that the government has credited Rs. 1,292 million to the accounts of 109,000 paddy farmers across 22 districts as part of the fertilizer subsidy program.
Ampara District received the highest allocation, with Rs. 291 million distributed to 19,900 farmers. Additionally, Rs. 540 million has been requested from the Treasury to extend the subsidy to another 47,553 farmers in the same districts.
Rajapaksa assured farmers that there would be no delays in providing the subsidy, which began on October 14. “We will ensure the fertilizer subsidy reaches farmers as soon as their cultivation for the Maha Season begins,” he said.
The program is structured in two phases: Rs. 15,000 per hectare in the first phase and Rs. 10,000 in the second phase. Responding to farmers’ requests, the subsidy was distributed before cultivation commenced, rather than at the start of paddy field preparation as is customary.
This proactive approach, Rajapaksa noted, aims to support farmers in a timely manner and ensure a successful Maha cultivation season.
