Jaffna Troops - Produced 50 Tons of Organic Fertilizer Shared among 30 Jaffna Farmers

The Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), throwing its full weight behind the Army’s ‘organic fertilizer production’ bandwagon in parallel with HE the President’s ‘Saubhagye Dekma’ (Vistas of Prosperity & Splendour) policy framework this morning (3) distributed 50 tons of Army-produced organic fertilizer among 30 Jaffna farmers during a simple ceremony after inviting them to the Army farm at Palaly, Jaffna .

General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army on the invitation of Major General Jagath Kodithuwakku, Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna graced the symbolic distribution ceremony, together with Senior Officers of the Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock of the Army.

The Army soon after HE the President’s visionary approach to this effect was announced took measures at all formation levels to produce organic fertilizer for the benefit of civilians in respective areas as well as for use among Army cultivators of different crops, including vegetables and paddy to match with the Commander’s “Thuru Mithuru –Nawa Ratak” project. Just a few days ago, a similar stock of 86.9 tons of organic fertilizer, produced by the SFHQ-E troops was also delivered to the ‘Lak Pohora’ state agency by the Commander, SF-East for distribution.

At the same occasion, General Shavendra Silva formally inaugurating the installed organic fertilizer production unit inside the Palaly Army farm shared a few words with those 30 fertilizer recipients before they were symbolically gifted to them in the presence of Major General Jagath Kodithuwakku, Commander, SF-J, Brigadier Arosh Rajapaksa, Director Agriculture and Livestock and several other Senior Officers. Similarly, the Army Chief had a close gaze at a few agricultural machines that have been innovated and produced by the Army exclusively for the fertilizer project.

The Commander of the Army commented that the Army has already commenced fertilizer production in order to add its contribution to the national drive and the Eastern Province troops have already launched it in a successful manner. “Once Palaly unit is well established and commences its full operation, the Army can produce about 4000 ltr of liquid fertilizer for farmers in the peninsula”.

This is the first-ever such distribution of a mega stock of organic fertilizer that took place in the peninsula among the farmers in the region. It also adds further significance since inauguration of the organic fertilizer factory unit, located inside the Army Farm occurred simultaneously this morning (3).

SFHQ-Jaffna troops in a remarkable move invented and improved four new machines that could easily run the fertilizer production process, thereby avoiding purchase of expensive machinery for the purpose. Among those new equipment are a pulverizing machine, agri shredder, huller machine and a collecting machine, designed exclusively by Lieutenant Colonel P.D.L.A.C Sirisena – SLEME [Staff Officer 1 (Logistic)] with the technical assistance, provided by troops of the 5 Corps of Engineer Service Regiment and 4 Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.