The Agriculture Ministry has made arrangements to start a comprehensive agricultural cultivation programme in Sri Lanka in the coming period. Each party is of the opinion that in order to get a proper harvest from the crops, the ban on the chemicals currently used for weed control should be removed.
In order to get a successful harvest in crops like maize, tea, paddy, chillies, peas, green grams soybeans as well as potatoes and bananas, the ban of the powerful weed controller glyphosate should be removed. Scholars, farmers’ representatives, farmers’ organizations as well as seed and seedling producers’ associations and maize importers’ association have also submitted ideas and suggestions.
Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, who expressed his opinion in this regard was speaking after receiving the opinions and suggestions of various parties regarding the lifting of the ban on glyphosate.
Although glyphosate is currently banned, some businessmen smuggle it from India and sell it at a high price of Rs. 12,500 for four litres.
Therefore, the officials of the Agriculture Ministry confirmed that they have already consulted the experts on the subject of agriculture and they have submitted their ideas and suggestions regarding the lifting of the ban on glyphosate.
According to the public opinion our aim is lift to the ban on glyphosate, said Minister Amaraweera.
