Agrarian Dept to limit urea fertilizer issuance to paddy sector amid supply constraints

The Department of Agrarian Development in Sri Lanka has announced that it will limit the distribution of urea fertilizer only to paddy farming. This decision comes because of low national supplies caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. For the 2026 Yala season, unmixed urea fertilizer will be available only for rice cultivation through Agrarian Service Centers. The Department has notified Agrarian Development Officers across the country about this change. They must issue fertilizer based on how much land each farmer has cultivated. Fertilizer distribution will depend on evaluations made during seasonal meetings or by confirming paddy farming practices. The process will rely on existing farmer data to ensure that the amount given matches the verified land area. Additionally, the Department has instructed Agrarian Development Officers to manage the current fertilizer supplies carefully to facilitate uninterrupted paddy cultivation during the 2026 Yala season.