The Hon. Namal Karunaratne

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the Hon. Member earlier raised the matter of the Chinese fertilizer ship. I should address that. A total of 96,000 metric tons of fertilizer were ordered. Out of that, 20,550 metric tons did not enter the country. The vessel wandered around and finally departed. That consignment had been ordered not according to any production plan but in violation of regulations. The microorganisms present in that fertilizer were not compatible with our country. Therefore, the consignment was rejected. However, the loss to us was that we ended up with no fertilizer, no SOMs, and ultimately no ship. The ship left after circling. Yet we had to pay a 75% fee on the entire 96,000 metric tons ordered. Thus, as you stated, we had to pay USD 670,000 — Rs. 1,383 million. There can be no excuse for this. The relevant legal actions are already underway and the maximum penalties will be imposed through those processes.

¶ 02 Hon. Member, your second supplementary question raised a very important point. In truth, our farmers do not use fertilizer according to scientific methods. Therefore, the Department of Agriculture has now prepared a plan. Specifically, we target, within four cropping seasons for paddy, to conduct soil testing and to standardize fertilizer application so that the key primary nutrients — potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen — are supplied in line with soil needs and crop requirements. Plans are being prepared and the soil testing process has started. Through this, yields can be increased, fertilizer costs reduced, and soil degradation minimized. There are 32 laboratories; current shortages of human and physical resources are being filled. The process is underway. Accordingly, going forward, soil testing will be conducted plot by plot and field by field, and fertilizer recommendations will be made according to the suitability of each soil. Hon. Member, the issue you raised is included among the measures we are preparing to implement nationwide to leap forward in agriculture.