Farmers should not develop unnecessary fear regarding the current fertiliser situation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne said on Saturday, confirming that surplus stocks are available ahead of the upcoming Yala cultivation season.
The assurance comes amid heightened anxiety over supply shortages across multiple sectors — from fuel and LP gas to essential commodities — driven by the Middle East energy crisis and global shipping disruptions.
The government’s Rs. 7.1 billion fertiliser subsidy announced as part of President Dissanayake’s concessional relief package remains in place for the Yala season. The tea fertiliser QR distribution system has also surpassed targets, reaching over 187,000 farmers.
The Plantation Association had earlier warned of potential fertiliser shortages affecting the plantation sector. Karunaratne’s statement appears aimed at countering those concerns before they affect farmer confidence or lead to panic buying ahead of planting.
The Yala season, which typically runs from April to September, is the country’s second major cultivation period and a critical contributor to domestic food production.
