The recently-established Green Agriculture Operation Center (GAOC) at Rajagiriya, mandated to spearhead, implement and coordinate island-wide production of organic fertilizer for 'Yala Season - 2022' on a Presidential directive this afternoon (5) kick-started its brainstorming session, attended by Agriculture Ministerial Secretaries and General Shavendra Silva, Head of the Green Agriculture Operation Center (GAOC), Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army. Officials of the Presidential Task Force for Green Agriculture, top-level cream of stakeholders, drawn from all corners of the island and experts on the subject too join the session.
Mr. D.M.L.D Bandaranayaka, Secretary to Ministry of Agriculture and Mr. M.N Ranasinghe, Secretary to State Ministry of Agriculture, together with General Shavendra Silva, Head, GAOC spelt out the objective of the day’s first meeting of this magnitude in the New Year at the GAOC after a warm welcome of the Head GAOC.
Dr. S.H.S Ajantha De Silva, DG Agriculture, Mr. A.H.M.L Abeyrathna, Commissioner General of Agrarian Development, Dr. Hemantha Wijewardene, Advisor/ Expert Organic Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Chandana Lokuhewage, Director National Fertilizer Secretariat, Major (Rtd) Vijitha Welikala, Chairman, Presidential Task Force (PTF), Mr. G.N Vernan Perera, Secretary, PTF, Dr. Kasun Tharaka Amal, Scientist, Bio Agriculture PTF, Mr. R.A Priyantha Perera, Managing Director, Lanka Fertilizer Company, Dr. Jayantha Weerarathna, Managing Director Colombo Commercial Fertilizer Company, Dr. Patrick Nugawela, Economist and Specialist in Agriculture Systems, Mr. Thilak Kariyawasam, Chairman, Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement, Mr. J.M Soorasena, Researcher & Scientist, Agriculture Information Science, Prof. Sanjeewani Ginigaddara, Vice Chancellor Rajarata University, Dr. P.B Dharamasena, Visiting Lecturer Rajarata University and Adviser to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations were among other participants at this inaugural kick-off at the GAOC.
The comprehensive discussion, led by General Shavendra Silva at the GAOC after its founding on 2 December 2021, having appointed General Shavendra Silva as the Head by HE the President largely focused on possibilities for resolution of organic and liquid fertilizer, need for addition of Phosphorus, production of egg-seeds for the Yala season, use of Nano-Nitrogen and KCL fertilizer, quality tests for produced manure, use of alternative agro-chemicals for weeds and pesticides, enrichment of Army, Civil Security Department and Land Reforms Commission – already produced organic fertilizer stocks, issue of strategic guidelines for paddy cultivation in the 2022 Yala season, supply and demand of organic and liquid fertilizer for other crops and cultivations, enhancement of knowledge and training on the use of organic fertilizer for agrarian officials and the farming community, inauguration of projects that could provide long-term raw materials and resources for sustenance of production processes of both organic and liquid fertilizer and a few other related areas of concern.
The meeting also seriously reviewed the strategy that could be applied for use of organic fertilizer in the forthcoming Yala season, presenting two solutions considering liquid and solid supplements with issue of strict guidelines to that effect. Similarly, all stakeholders explored practical aspects as regards production of the entire quantity of fertilizer, needed for 2022 Yala season with the green agricultural concept in parallel to the use of liquid and carbonic Phosphate.
Extensive deliberations under 12 major areas of concern also evaluated the existing need for Nano-Nitrogen liquid fertilizer, weedicides and pesticides and their requirements, enrichment of already-produced organic fertilizer stocks for high quality and the preparation of a strategic roadmap for achievement of desired goals. One expert joined the discussions virtually.
The Sri Lanka Army at the forefront of launching pioneering organic fertilizer production projects at ground level using land extents of all camp locations, has already contributed to the national drive on the directions of General Shavendra Silva and expects to multiply and accelerate the production process in the coming months on a large scale.
Earlier, Sri Lanka Army troops undertook the challenge of controlling the pandemic COVID-19 under the guidance of General Shavendra Silva who acted as the Head of the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), now functional as the GAOC following directions given by HE the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
