Breaking News
Sheron
Sheron
Mar 26 2026
97A severe fertilizer shortage could jeopardize paddy cultivation during the upcoming Yala season, National Farmers’ Union Chairman Anuradha Tennakoon warned.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tennakoon said that although nearly 130,000 metric tons of fertilizer are required for paddy cultivation this season, only about 60,000 metric tons are currently available in the country.
He said water has already been released for the Yala season and stressed that the full requirement of fertilizer must be available in advance to ensure a successful harvest, even before considering the needs of other crops.
Tennakoon said that fertilizer is imported by five major companies in Sri Lanka, which together currently hold around 60,000 metric tons, but claimed that the procurement process to import the remaining stocks has not yet begun.
“In total, nearly one million metric tons of fertilizer will need to be imported for paddy cultivation alone, but no steps have been taken so far to initiate procurement,” he said.
Referring to global market conditions, Tennakoon said the price of fertilizer has increased to around USD 650 per metric ton, which could push the price of a 50-kg bag to over Rs. 20,000 if imported at current rates.
He also warned that fertilizer imports, which mainly arrive by sea cargo from Middle Eastern countries including Oman, could face serious disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the region, raising the risk of a critical shortage.
While the government and agriculture authorities have said that sufficient stocks are available and urged farmers to continue cultivation without fear, Tennakoon said farmers remain concerned as paddy prices have not increased reasonably despite rising costs of fuel, seed, and fertilizer.
He further alleged that the government has failed to utilize the Eppawala phosphate deposit to produce fertilizer locally, calling it a major shortcoming at a time when the country is facing a potential agricultural crisis.
source: Daily Mirror
