The Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa has called on the government to disclose the formula used to determine the guaranteed price of paddy, emphasizing the need for transparency in calculating production costs.
Addressing the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainability, Premadasa said the formula should account for key input costs, including seed paddy, fertilizer, agrochemicals, machinery and equipment.
He also requested details on how Sri Lanka’s annual fertilizer demand is being met through government and private-sector procurement.
Highlighting the impact of global conflicts on fertilizer prices, the Opposition Leader called for a comparison of fertilizer prices before and after conflict in the Middle East and sought clarification on the effect of the Strait of Hormuz on fertilizer imports to Sri Lanka.
Opposition Leader Premadasa noted that while authorities maintain there are no supply shortages, significant price differences between fertilizer supplied through paddy service centres and the private sector have raised concerns among farmers.
The Opposition Leader further urged the government to disclose the quality standards applied to fertilizer imports and the quantity of fertilizer allocated per hectare. According to farmers, the current allocation of 300 kilograms per hectare is insufficient and should be increased to 400 kilograms. Similarly, the allocation of 50 kilograms of organic fertilizer per hectare should be raised to 150 kilograms, he said.
Premadasa stressed that greater transparency regarding fertilizer pricing, quality and distribution is essential to support the agricultural sector and ensure fair returns for farmers.
