Enough diesel to be provided to farmers for Yala harvesting

By Ifham Nizam

The Agriculture Ministry says it will secure 3,020 bowserloads of diesel to be distributed among the farmers’ association during the Yala harvesting season.

The Minister has taken this decision following Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera’s discussions with farmers’ associations. Ministry Secretary Rohana Pushpakumara also participated in the discussion.

For the paddy harvesting machinery about 20.27 million litres or 3,0020 bowserloads of diesel are required

The Ministry of Agriculture proposed to supply diesel to tractors, etc., under the QR code system, but the farmer representatives said that proposal was not practical.

Therefore, according to the document prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, the representatives of the farmers Associations requested the minister to start a system of getting fuel directly from the fuel outlets and releasing it to the farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture agreed to release fuel for harvesting according to the method presented by the farmers’ representatives.

He also said that the request of the farmers’ organisations will be implemented in consultation with the top officials of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

A number of other matters were also discussed such as providing fertilizer, purchasing paddy, the removal of ban on agrochemicals.