A drop in production in paddy and tea last year due to the ban on chemical fertilizer has caused a loss of more than Rs. 245,000 million, a study has revealed.
Professor of economics at Peradeniya University Wasantha Athukorale has told ‘Lankadeepa’ that each farmer had lost around Rs. 100,000 of income in that year.
When compared to the productions in the corresponding periods in the previous year, paddy harvest dropped by 1,130,164 metric tons, or 36 per cent, in Yala season and 626,527 mt, or 30 pc, in Maha season, said Prof. Athukorale.
In both seasons, the production decreased by 1,756,691 mt.
Tea production too, declined by 47,000 mt, or 16 pc, last year, he said, adding the loss came to Rs. 60,840 million.
There were decreases in crop exports too – by 1.8 pc for rubber, by 5.9 pc for coconut, by 18.9 pc for spices and by 6.6 pc for vegetables.
The study also revealed the government had spent Rs. 84,800 million on importing organic fertilizer last year, Prof. Athukorala added.
