Sevanagala Sugar ventures into manufacture of organic fertiliser, using its bio-waste

Director General of Sevanagala Sugar Industries Gamini Rasaputhra said they had helped save Rs. 250 million by stopping the use of chemical fertilisers and the saving would be utilised to build a factory for organic fertiliser.

Addressing the media following a visit by Export Promotions Minister Janaka Wakkumbura to the Sevanagala Sugar factory to inspect the progress of the construction of the new organic fertiliser factory, Rasaputra said that the company had spent Rs. 250 million annually on chemical fertilisers used for sugarcane cultivation.

The research conducted by the company had found that replacing chemical fertilisers with organic fertilisers would not lead to a reduction in sugarcane production. Following the finding of the research action had been taken to construct an organic fertiliser manufacturing facility within the factory promises. Much of the raw material for the organic fertiliser could easily be found in waste produced in the sugar-making proces, Rasaputhra said.

Minister Wakkumbura, appreciating the company management’s decision, said that the country would benefit immensely from the company’s eco-friendly approach.

Rasaputra said that there was a possibility of producing 100 tonnes of organic fertiliser daily using the bio-waste from the Pelwatte and Sevanagala Sugar Industries.

Action was being taken to introduce organic fertiliser to 35,000 acres of sugarcane cultivation coming under the Sevanagala Sugar Industries starting from this year, Rasaputra said.