Research reveals that paddy yield per acre declined by 53% due to chemical fertilizer ban during 2021 Maha season

It was revealed in a recent survey that due to the ban on the use of chemical fertilizers in the country during the 2021 Maha season, the paddy yield per acre had decreased by 53%.

This survey has been conducted by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Training and Research Institute in the last quarter of 2022 and the first month of 2023 regarding the impact of the ban on chemical fertilizers in the 2021 Maha season.

Recently, five research papers of the survey were handed over to Mr.Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture at the HEARTI and they were presented to the public as well.

This survey has been conducted in relation to the fields of paddy cultivation, vegetable cultivation, potato cultivation and floriculture sector.

Accordingly, the survey report also shows that with the ban on chemical fertilizers during the 2021 Maha season, there has been a serious setback in all these sectors as well as a reduction in the yield.

Reduction in paddy harvest

The reduction in paddy harvest during the 2021 Maha season is reported to be 53%. According to the survey report, the overall yield reduction is 54% under the Major Irrigation, 54% under the Mahaweli Area, 53% under the minor irrigation system and 51% under the rain fed system.

Other crops and potato cultivation

Due to the impact of the ban on chemical fertilizers the yield of potato and other crops has decreased by 52%.

Accordingly, the yield of maize dropped by 68%, big onion by 52%, potato by 52%, and chilli by 43%.

Vegetable cultivation and floriculture

During the 2021 Maha season, vegetable cultivation declined by 57% due to the ban on chemical fertilizers. Also, about 86% of flower growers have left the floriculture sector.

Accordingly, taking into account the decline in vegetable cultivation, the cultivation of Luffa has decreased by 64%, Tomato cultivation by 62%, Cabbage cultivation by 61%, Bean cultivation by 54%, Okra cultivation by 49% and Brinjal cultivation by 42%.

Increase of use of organic fertilizers

Owing to the ban of chemical fertilizers, the use of organic fertilizers increased by 57%.

Accordingly, although the use of organic fertilizers in maize cultivation was 05% earlier, later it increased up to 47%. The potato crop has dropped from 99% to 95%. The survey report shows that the use of organic fertilizers in chilli cultivation increased from 32% to 67% and Big Onion cultivation from 11% to 47%.