Pelwatte Dairy Industries is taking steps to address issues pertaining to sustainable agriculture, food produce and waste management while also hoping to overcome the dire consequences caused by chemical-based fertilisers – from soil damage to renal diseases.
The company has now introduced a range of organic fertilisers (compost) to the Sri Lankan market. The compost is manufactured to meet industrial and departmental standards and has been certified for its quality. Through this new product, the company seeks to mitigate the bad effects of chemical fertilisers while also creating a momentum on sustainable waste management. Farm Manager of Pelwatte Dairy, Chamila Rajapaksha said, “We use the recommended raw material and ensure that all guidelines are followed during the manufacturing process. We use cattle waste, poultry waste, used tea leaves, plant waste, carbonated paddy husk and Eppawala Rock Phosphate (ERP) for production.
This is distinct from most other organic fertilisers that only use plant waste for the process.”
“Pelwatte Dairy takes keen interest in constantly ensuring that our goal of producing high quality compost is met and has been registered at the special unit for organic fertilisers at the Department of Agriculture,” he said. Pelwatte Dairy Industries first launched the project in its dairy farm in Walugolla in October 2018 with the assistance and consultation of the Sustainable Food Development Program – an initiative of the Presidential Secretariat.