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| Sunday, 10 February 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Forbidden fruit? by FRANCES BULATHSINGHALA
While plantation companies add up the economics of oil palm cultivation, environmentalists continue to tear their hair over what they cite as imminent dangers to the soil and environment including bird and animal life, if oil palm is continued to be grown in Sri Lanka. Many an issue where oil palm is concerned is voiced by environmental activists in Galle. In the Galle, Kalehe area environmentalists attached to 'Parisara Mithuro', an organisation established five years ago to protect the environment in the region point out the many adversities of oil palm. "We have seen wells run dry. We have witnessed the slow death of bird and animal species such as dogs, pigs and crows", says Sena Kalehiwatte, of Parisara Mithuro, a man who was instrumental in the protest against oil palm cultivation outside the Nakiyadeniya Estate last November.
"There are no longer any crows here. The skins of dogs and pigs become infested with sores due to the effects of the oil palm. It has also been observed that there is hardly any growth of plant life under the oil palm trees", says Kalehiwatte who also alleges that there may be unidentified harmful effects emitted by the trees to humans as well. "If it is bad for the animals and other plant species then why not for humans?" asks Kalehiwatte who also claims that the palm oil is mixed regularly with coconut oil and sold to the unsuspecting consumer who later wonders why the papadam cannot be fried without bubbles rising. Kalehiwatte when asked whether he has any scientific proof as to his initial allegation that the oil palm trees emit harmful effects to animals, environment and humans, point out that he does not have any proof that is 'scientific' but that he is merely pointing out the conclusions the 'Parisara Mithuro' organisation have come to over the years based on what they have seen and analysed.
"We do not need scientific proof. We are speaking of what we have seen with our own eyes" says Kalehiwatte. Kalehiwatte's allegation that there was no bird life in the oil palm estates was however contradicted when we witnessed bird life - especially of the mynah species at the Thalagaswila estate and a profusion of storks roosting on the oil palm fruit dumping site at the Nakiyadeniya estates oil palm factory premises. There were other adverse observations; like those of P. B. Liyanage, a resident of Pilanne who had worked at an oil palm cultivation in the Galle region as field officer for a period of fourteen years. Liyanage who lives adjoining his former oil palm estate says that one of the main ill-effects to the soil comes of the unbiodegradability of oil palm leaves which are akin to 'plastic'. He also believes that there is heat emanating from the leaves of the oil palm which one can feel after spending considerable time under the trees. However he too admits, that these factors including the many others laid against oil palm cultivation, are not proved. Where the environmentalists based in Colombo are concerned it is a case of acute shortage of research on the environmental angle on oil palm . "It is a sad fact that environmentalists have not taken upon themselves to see that a comprehensive research is done on oil palm", says Hemantha Withanage, Director of the Environmental Foundation, adding that other than the 56-paged research on oil palm done in 1999 by the World Rainforest Movement using countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, there is no in-depth analysis based on scientific proof on oil palm growth. "Oil palm is a cultivation which absorbs a high level of water. Also, a very high level of pesticides has to be used for oil palm. This leads to the contamination of water, soil and the killing of insects such as butterflies". These are the facts that are scientifically proven in the World Rainforest Publication, explains Hemantha who says that the Foundation is in the process of translating the document for the benefit of environmentalists, in order to fill the vacuum in information felt by those interested in pursuing the topic. Another allegation laid against oil palm growth is the fact that the cultivation causes a lot of soil erosion. "Oil palm is a cultivation that is endemic to Africa and not Malaysia, although Malaysia is one of the countries which cultivates oil palm on a large scale to export to other countries which includes Sri Lanka." "We have definite proof that oil palm is hazardous to the soil, because it absorbs more water, said environmentalist Jagath Gunawardena who is involved in independent research on oil palm impact on the natural surroundings. He adds that if the need for oil palm has arisen because of a dire need for a substitute to fill in the shortage of coconut oil production, then other alternatives, could be considered such as sunflower. "Sunflower can be grown in most areas of Sri Lanka and the local soil is ideal for the growth", says Gunawardena. However the argument line taken by oil palm cultivators is that sunflower is not a feasible alternative as it is an 'exorbitant' substitute and that a local production of sunflower oil could be catered only to a very limited market as the oil would have to be priced at an high rate. Gunawardena meanwhile also laments the lack of constructive action to see that coconut is not allowed to be extinct while the palm oil cultivators point out that the fact that more land and manpower is required for coconut than oil palm. It is negative economic factors that makes them opt out of coconut cultivation. |
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