President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has instructed the
Treasury to provide an allowance of Rs. 25,000 per hectare to paddy
farmers for the Maha season of 2024/25.
According to this initiative, the fertilizer subsidy, which was
previously set at Rs. 15,000 per hectare, will be increased to Rs.
25,000. This enhanced subsidy will take effect starting October 01.
To ensure efficient delivery of the subsidy to farmers, the funds will
be directly transferred to their bank accounts. This approach aims to
streamline the process and provide timely support to those in the
agricultural sector.
The new government’s policy statement emphasizes the importance of
effectively managing agricultural inputs. It outlines a commitment to
providing fertilizer and other agricultural inputs at reasonable
prices, along with subsidies for both chemical and organic fertilizer,
all in line with good agricultural practices. This step has been
implemented to support sustainable farming.
In addition, the Hon. President has directed the Treasury to implement
a fuel subsidy for the fishing community, effective from October 01.
This measure is intended to boost the fishing industry and lower
production costs for fishermen.
The fuel subsidy will be available on a monthly basis for both
multi-day and one-day fishing vessels. Similar to the agricultural
subsidy, this funding will also be directly deposited into the
fishermen’s bank accounts.
The government’s policy statement underscores the goal of developing
and managing the fishing industry in a sustainable and environmentally
friendly manner. This approach aims to enhance fish production, making
it more accessible to consumers at fair prices, while also improving
the quality of life for those involved in the industry.
Furthermore, efforts will be made to provide financial and technical
support for the recovery of marine fisheries, which are currently
facing significant challenges.
