Sri Lanka welcomes crucial fertilizer donation from Russia
Uralchem Group has contributed 55,000 metric tons of potash to Sri Lanka in response to the ongoing global food crisis. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Uralchem Group has shipped 55,000 metric tons of potash to address food security challenges in Sri Lanka.
The Russian fertilizer giant Uralchem delivered a humanitarian shipment of 55,000 metric tons of potash to Sri Lanka this week, which was celebrated with an official ceremony in Colombo on Friday.
The group stated that this shipment is part of a broader Russian initiative aimed at supporting developing nations, particularly in the Global South, amidst ongoing food shortages and global supply chain disruptions that disproportionately impact poorer countries. In 2022, Western sanctions against Moscow resulted in the blockage of 262,000 metric tons of Russian fertilizers at ports in Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In response, Russia has offered these commodities free of charge to countries in need, specifically targeting nations in Africa and South Asia.
This delivery of fertilizers marks Uralchem’s sixth free shipment. Since late 2022, the group has donated about 190,000 tons of fertilizers to developing countries, bearing all shipping and delivery costs. In collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme, over 166,000 tons of essential fertilizers have been sent from European ports to Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and now to Sri Lanka.
According to Uralchem, inspections have confirmed that the fertilizers remained in good condition despite prolonged storage on ships, making them suitable for enhancing crop production in Sri Lanka.
“Mineral fertilizers play a crucial role in ensuring healthy plant growth, supporting higher yields and thus safeguarding stable food supply,” said Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of Uralchem. He also highlighted Sri Lanka's recent economic crisis, which has severely impacted agricultural output and placed “vast swaths of the population at risk of food insecurity.”
During the ceremony, Sri Lankan Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha emphasized the importance of the donation for supporting farmers during a crucial period. He indicated that over 30,000 metric tons will be allocated to paddy farmers, with the remainder designated for coconut cultivators, as reported by local media.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Russian fertilizer giant Uralchem delivered a humanitarian shipment of 55,000 metric tons of potash to Sri Lanka this week, which was celebrated with an official ceremony in Colombo on Friday.
The group stated that this shipment is part of a broader Russian initiative aimed at supporting developing nations, particularly in the Global South, amidst ongoing food shortages and global supply chain disruptions that disproportionately impact poorer countries. In 2022, Western sanctions against Moscow resulted in the blockage of 262,000 metric tons of Russian fertilizers at ports in Latvia, Estonia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. In response, Russia has offered these commodities free of charge to countries in need, specifically targeting nations in Africa and South Asia.
This delivery of fertilizers marks Uralchem’s sixth free shipment. Since late 2022, the group has donated about 190,000 tons of fertilizers to developing countries, bearing all shipping and delivery costs. In collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme, over 166,000 tons of essential fertilizers have been sent from European ports to Malawi, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and now to Sri Lanka.
According to Uralchem, inspections have confirmed that the fertilizers remained in good condition despite prolonged storage on ships, making them suitable for enhancing crop production in Sri Lanka.
“Mineral fertilizers play a crucial role in ensuring healthy plant growth, supporting higher yields and thus safeguarding stable food supply,” said Dmitry Konyaev, CEO of Uralchem. He also highlighted Sri Lanka's recent economic crisis, which has severely impacted agricultural output and placed “vast swaths of the population at risk of food insecurity.”
During the ceremony, Sri Lankan Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha emphasized the importance of the donation for supporting farmers during a crucial period. He indicated that over 30,000 metric tons will be allocated to paddy farmers, with the remainder designated for coconut cultivators, as reported by local media.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
