The Government of Sri Lanka has withdrawn from its ambitious plans to be the world’s largest organic food producer as the nation fears losing its tea industry due to the ban imposed on chemical fertilizers, on Tuesday, October 19.
In a press conference, the Minister of Plantation, Ramesh Puthriana said the sudden change was to help tea growers in the industry earn exports worth $1.3 billion annually for the island nation. He added that, “Considering the fact that there has been a quality drop in tea that was produced in factories, the government has taken the decision to import sulphate of ammonia.”
The Minister further disclosed that the imports of chemical fertilisers would continue until the nation is able to produce enough organic fertilisers for local agricultural needs.
Also, Government’s Spokesman, Dullas Alahapperuma, in the same press conference revealed that the government was sensitive to the needs of the farmers and the people, hence the government breached its own ban last week by importing from Lithuania 30,000 tonnes of potassium chloride for local agricultural use.
In the nation’s pursuit to be the leading organic farm in the world, the President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa imposed a ban on importation of agrochemicals on May 6, 2021.
In a report published by the Sri Lanka Government, it clearly stated that, “In accordance with Section 20 read together with Sub-Section 4(1) and Section 14 of the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, No. 1 of 1969 as amended by Act No. 48 of 1985 and Act No. 28 of 1987, promulgated the “Imports and Exports (Control) Regulations No. 07 of 2021 (regulation), effective its publication in the Sri Lanka Gazette (No. 2226/48 of May 6, 2021). The Sri Lankan government is restricting and banning the import of fertilizers and agrochemicals (including insecticides and herbicides). The regulation is applicable to the import of goods with bills of lading/air waybills issued on or after May 6, 2021.”
However, prior to the implementation of this policy, the government argued that agricultural chemicals were poisoning people, hence the need to adopt organic farming.
The local farmers in Sri Lanka opposed the policy implemented by the government. They made mention that the government’s policy would contribute to lower yields and food shortages. Aside food shortages, the local farmers feared the crisis this policy would bring by rendering most of them and their employees jobless. One of the experts who grows one of the world’s most expensive teas, Herman Gunarante said, “The ban has drawn the tea industry into complete disarray.” He however, embraced the change in events as it would bring back the tea and agricultural industry to its previous state.
The government of Sri Lanka is expecting a change in the economy and looks forward to the tea industry bringing in more foreign earnings.
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