Govt. plans to reduce MOP Fertilizer price by Rs.4,500

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera says that the Government plans to reduce the price of MOP Fertilizer by Rs.4,500 for paddy cultivation this Yala Season.

The Minister also said that the Government has drawn attention to this matter at the recent Cabinet meeting and since a 50 kg bundle of MOP fertilizer is currently sold at Rs.18,500 in the market, it is difficult for farmers to bear that amount. Therefore, it has been decided to reduce the price.

The Minister also emphasized that the final decision will be taken at next week’s Cabinet meeting. As the two Government-owned fertilizer companies are working to provide fertilizer at the lowest price, competition has arisen in the market regarding the sale of chemical fertilizers.

The price of a bundle of Urea fertilizer which was Rs.42,000 during the last Yala Season in 2022, has been reduced to Rs.11,000, so that the farmers can benefit from the price reduction.

Private sector fertilizer dealers have also informed the Minister that just as the price of Urea fertilizer has decreased, the prices of TSP and MOP fertilizer will also see a further decrease. In the past, there were only six private companies that imported and distributed fertilizers in the country. But currently, the number of fertilizer companies importing and distributing throughout Sri Lanka has increased to 12.

Minister Amaraweera said that he requested the companies to provide the advantage of this competition to the farmers.