Sri Lanka abandoned its quest to become the World's first wholly organic farming nation on 21st November 2021. It announced immediately lifting the ban on importing pesticides and other agriculture inputs. This announcement came to post the restriction on importing fertilizer for tea in October 2021.
Sri Lanka has been in the grips of a severe economic crisis as the lack of foreign exchange has triggered the shortage of food, crude oil, and other essential goods. But before the farmers could go ahead with a planned farmer protest in the capital, Sri Lanka's agriculture ministry announced that it would end a broader ban of all agrochemicals, including herbicides and pesticides.
The shortage of food, crude oil, and other essential goods had worsened over time, pushing the ministry to make this decision. Ministry Secretary Udith Jayasinghe said that this decision was made to ensure food security.
The cost of rice, vegetables, and other market staples has doubled across Sri Lanka. Supermarkets have also rationed rice sales limiting it to only five kilograms per customer.
The policy was introduced in May after a massive hit to the island's economy during the Covid-19 pandemic. This decision led to vast tracts of farmland being abandoned, directly impacting the productions. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa justified the ban by saying he wanted to make Sri Lanka farming completely organic.
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