Categories: Articles

LNP – Env. Ministry directs GSMB to facilitate farmers with soil testing on farm land

The Environment Ministry instructed the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) to provide their laboratory facilities to facilitate soil testing on farm land, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.

Addressing a meeting at the Ministry yesterday, he said the Environment Ministry and all its affiliated institutions should make their full contribution to the programme being carried out by the government to promote organic farming.

All ministries should cooperate in the organic farming programme initiated by the government at the instructions of the President.

“The GSMB currently has a fully equipped laboratory to facilitate soil testing, but the work is being done by the Agriculture Ministry. Soil tests are performed to obtain accurate data on the chemical conditions of farm land soil. After such soil tests, it is possible to get a successful harvest in the cultivation process,” the Minister said.

Therefore, the Minister advised the officials if the farmers want to carry out a soil test on their farm, the necessary facilities can be provided by the GSMB laboratory.

“Natural herbicides and pesticides are planned to be developed with the financial assistance of the GSMB and the Technical Services Institute. A big problem in the process of popularizing organic farming is the lack of focus on herbicides and pesticides so far,” he said.

Therefore, if the research carried out in our country to produce 100% eco-friendly herbicides and pesticides using several invasive plant species is successful, it will be a turning point in the local agriculture sector. Several invasive species that need to be removed from the environment have been identified and research is being carried out on them, the Minister said.

The Minister instructed to take steps to commence those activities with the least possible delay.

AddThis Website Tools
Tyronne Jayamanne

Recent Posts

LNP – Minister Mervin Silva indicted

LNP – Minister Mervin Silva indicted

The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has filed indictments against former…

5 hours ago
LNP – UK Trade Envoy on inaugural visit to Sri Lanka

LNP – UK Trade Envoy on inaugural visit to Sri Lanka

The UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Sri Lanka, Lord Hannett of Everton, is visiting…

8 hours ago
LNP – Marine Drive to be developed ’Marine Nights, Awakening Colombo’ theme

LNP – Marine Drive to be developed ’Marine Nights, Awakening Colombo’ theme

The Cabinet has approved the proposal to develop the Marine Drive from the Kollupitiya Railway…

10 hours ago

LNP – Trains along coastal line delayed

Train services along the coastal line are experiencing delays due to a train traveling from…

10 hours ago

LNP – Sri Lanka on track to roll out e-NIC, Thales delivering final 400k cards

The final 400,000 polycarbonate cards procured from Thales by Sri Lanka’s Department of Registration of…

10 hours ago

LNP – Sri Lanka and New Zealand discuss ways to deepen bilateral trade and investment ties

Debt-stricken Sri Lanka hosted one of New Zealand’s top ministers to discuss ways to deepen…

10 hours ago