The Government has launched a project to set up 450 villages island wide to manufacture organic manure to promote and encourage the usage of organic manure.

The project will enlist the support of 45000 farmers in the country. The government has spent over Rs.65 billion for the fertilizer subsidy during the last four years mainly for the farmers of rice.

The Agricultural ministry is expected to allocate Rs.150 million for this project. The ultimate aim of the government is to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizer by at least 25 percent at the end of the completion of this project.

According to agro based engineers, since the chemical fertilizer is mainly used for crop cultivation it has contributed towards gradual loss of fertility in soil resulting in less harvest and causing soil and water pollution in the country.

The establishment of organic manure production villages will facilitate the production of organic manure at village level in order to encourage the people to increase their productivity.