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| Sunday, 25 December 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Alternative to urea subsidy by Somachandre Wijesuriya in conversation with Dr. Lionel Weerakoon Agronomist, Dr. Lionel Weerakoon belongs to the growing breed of scientists advocating an alternative to the government subsidy of urea, which was given to farmers under an election promise. The reasons are economic as well as environmental. 'Green Revolution' of the sixties established the use of urea and artificial fertilizer combined with hybrid plants which registered 'miracle' harvests. This was very profitable to multi-national companies who were in the business of producing chemicals and fertilisers. The harvests were measured in quantitative terms but there were many detrimental factors which scientists started to discover. Dr. Weerakoon argues that developed countries are now giving up use of artificial inputs in agriculture while under developed countries like Sri Lanka are still continuing the practice. Mahaveli and other river valley based development projects expanded paddy cultivation and the agri-output was mainly related to external inputs like insecticides and urea. Subsidy in this country means basically subsidy for urea which contains nitrogen as the plant growth ingredient. Use of urea is established virtually as a national policy. Yet, this policy itself is based on a misconception that a better harvest is possible with the use of urea alone. Based on this misconception, higher use of urea sent up the subsidy from Rs. 1,000 mls to 2,500 per annum over the years. Dr Weerakoon shows that plant growth needs potassium, phosphorous and 13 other ingredients. Use of urea stimulates plant growth but makes the plant less resistant to bacteria, fungi and easily succumbs to plant diseases resulting is a reduced yield. Therefore, it is illogical to subsidize urea fertilizer only. Apart from that it creates an environmental catastrophe because excessive use of urea increases the nitrogen content of water which affects health of humans. Still born babies in hospitals can be traced to this environmental problem. Higher concentration of urea in water increases algae growth in tanks and blocks waterways. This was noticed in Kotmale reservoir which at one time had a growth of algae nearly one metre in height. In the past decade many European countries started adopting sustainable agriculture because of rising cost of artificial inputs, environmental damage and effects on human life. European governments introduced subsidies to help farmers to encourage use of natural inputs instead of artificial ones. Switzerland is one country which introduced legislation in 1992 and established a new national agricultural policy. In 1996 that country initiated legislative enactments and introduced subsidies for conservation of agricultural land, alternatives to artificial inputs and use of organic fertilizer. Switzerland also introduced a tax system which encouraged use of natural ingredients in agriculture. Canada and Netherlands are two countries which encourages natural agro-inputs. Canada reduced use of artificial inputs by 50% by year 2000. Sri Lankan farmers have a wealth of knowledge on traditional methods of farming. Much research has been done on these aspects as far back as 1930 by Dr. Jochim. However, attempts to introduce natural methods of farming remains in ad hoc measures. For instance, farmers in Gampola and Nawalapitiya have identified 38 varieties of plant leaves that can be used as natural fertilizer. Unless, a national agricultural policy is introduced these isolated attempts will not make headway. A national agricultural policy can influence agriculture but should be connected to other aspects of the economy including taxation, education of farmers and school children. Dr. Weerakoon cites Cuba as a country which benefited out of sustainable farming. Cuba imported 94% of its fertilizer from Russia. The collapse of USSR made Cubans think of a new agricultural policy and reduce artificial inputs. By 1997 out of 13 varieties of food items consumed in the country 10 were grown through sustainable agriculture. Dr. Weerakoon observes that these achievements were made possible because transfer to natural methods of farming was a political decision. The crux of the matter lies is that. Unless, a political decision is made this country will waste a lot of foreign exchange, bring environmental damages and affect the health of the people. In the last election we saw how the two main political parties vying each other on the urea subsidy to harvest votes.
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