Aug 14, Colombo: The activities to increase the organic fertilizer production at the Welimada Ulugalawatta Organic Solid Fertilizer Processing Center under the National Food Promotion Board commenced last Friday with the participation of Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera.

The occasion was attended by Governor of Uva Province A. H. M. Muzammil, Member of Parliament Sudarshana Denipitiya, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Gunadasa Samarasinghe and Chairman of the National Food Promotion Board Palinda Sagara were present.

Arrangements have been made to export 5000 metric tons of solid organic fertilizers processed at this center every month. Most of this fertilizer is being supplied for a cultivation project currently being built in Dubai.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, inspected the production activities at the center and also inspected the successful cultivation of vegetables and papaya grown in shelters prepared with organic fertilizers.

The Minister who expressed his views here stated that the decision to use 100% organic fertilizers in the agriculture sector of the country has completely destroyed the agricultural sector.

He also mentioned that although the farmers have been encouraged to apply chemical fertilizers 100 percent again, scholars have previously launched a big discussion across the country regarding the health problems caused by the application of chemical fertilizers.

The Minister said However, in order to get successful results from farming, the research conducted by the Department of Agriculture has shown that by applying both organic and chemical fertilizers as recommended, will lead to high yield as well as quality food.

The Minister also mentioned that according to the tests conducted by the Bathalagoda Rice Research Institute, the highest yield of rice has been achieved by using both organic and chemical fertilizers according to proper recommendations.