Towards organic farming

Agriculture is the very bedrock on which our civilization and way of life have been built. Directly or indirectly, nearly 70 per cent of the population depends on agriculture. Every Government has provided incentives and concessions for farmers, who contribute to economic growth in a major way. Paddy farming is the most visible and important facet of local agriculture, but other crops are also important.

Farmers have to contend with a variety of factors, some of which are beyond their control. Most crops do need rain, but excess rain can cause floods which ruin crops. The other major factor is pests - invasive animals and plants that can threaten and destroy crops. They can cause dreaded plant diseases that may result in a lost harvest and loss of revenue.

Controlling these invasive plant and animal species is vital to ensure a good harvest, regardless of the crop. This is where chemical pesticides and weedicides come in. These are poisonous chemical formulations targeted at the offending plant and animal species. They are generally available over the counter to consumers, who do not necessarily have to prove that they are buying the product for an agricultural purpose.

Indeed, it is a well known fact that many people buy pesticides with the aim of using it to take their own lives. In 2006 alone, 2,787 people had used pesticides to end their own lives. This is an alarming number, even when considering that many others would have used different methods of suicide.

Widespread availability and easy access to pesticides is one reason for this status quo.

There is another factor that gets even less attention: (unintentional) pesticide poisoning. More than 1,242 pesticide poisoning deaths were reported in 2006, along with 16,876 cases of hospitalization. The main cause was that seventy per cent of the users had exceeded the stipulated dosage of pesticides.

These statistics clearly call for new laws governing the manufacture, import, distribution and sale of pesticides countrywide. This is essential because there will be an upward trend in pesticide sales with more provinces coming into paddy cultivation. It is in this context that we should welcome the planned new regulations to pest control services, labelling information, training of pesticides applicators and penalty structure. Accordingly, the penalty for the misuse of pesticides will be increased to Rs. 500,000 from Rs. 10,000.

It is encouraging to note that Sri Lanka is following Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam and Montreal International Conventions related to the production, export and import of hazardous chemicals and therefore bringing in banned chemicals to the country is highly restricted. These laws should be strengthened further and any loopholes must be covered.

It is apparent that most farmers have not been properly educated on dosages, protective coverings and clothing and even spraying methods. The regulatory authorities, pesticide manufacturers and importers and the media must join hands to educate farmers and their household members on these aspects and proper storage of pesticides. Small children have been known to drink pesticides inadvertently kept within their reach by the parents. It is vital to keep pesticides away from children. All these habits should be inculcated in farmers - it cannot be done through legislation alone. New technology should also be introduced - new "Splash packs" for crops minimize exposure by keeping the sprayers away. The farmers should also be educated on the impact on the environment as pesticides can seep through to ground water and contaminate water sources.

We are yet to hear of any long term study on the use and impact of pesticides in agriculture. Almost all vegetables and fruits that we consume have been chemically treated during cultivation and even in the post-harvest phase in some cases. These chemical compounds cannot have a good effect on our bodies. More research should be conducted to find out the long-term effects of pesticide use. The same goes for chemical fertilizer, which is used in large amounts for almost every type of crop.

There are two other ways in which we can minimize the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides - turning to organic farming and engineering more disease-resistant crop varieties. Organic farming has been quite big in the Western world for many years, though it is becoming fashionable here only now. The premise behind organic farming is simple - no chemical ingredients are used to grow crops and fight pests. These processes are handled in an all-natural way. For example, compost fertiliser is used extensively while natural methods are used to fight pests and disease. The resulting products, even though a little more expensive, are environmentally friendly and beneficial to health. Biological agents can also be used to fight pests and plant disease, but care should be taken to ensure that the new species does not become a pest itself.

A few organic farms exist in this country, but the concept is yet to take off. Their products are also available only at select supermarkets, thus limiting their scope and appeal to the ordinary consumer. Organic farming must be popularized at the level of both farmers and consumers. The Department of Agriculture and other agencies must work to promote sustainable organic farming in a big way. We can learn many lessons from other countries which have 'converted' to organic farming. More consumers will switch to organic products if they are priced on par with the non-organic produce and some will not mind a small premium.

The other approach is using seed and crop varieties which are more resistant to pests and disease which also helps minimize the use of chemical agents.

Some might call it genetic engineering or even GM - Genetically Modified food. This sounds terrifying to most people thanks to the media hype, but the truth is that most of our food crops have been genetically modified at some point, over thousands of years. Many hybrid rice varieties have been introduced by the International Rice Research Institute in Manila and the local Rice Research Institute. As far as we know, these rice types have not posed any danger to consumers. GM food must not be opposed simply for the sake of opposing - it could prove to be the only viable way to grow food in the future. Of course, there might be grounds for concern in some cases. But if a crop can be made more disease resistant through GM, there is no reason why it should not be tried. In any case, such foods are not marketed overnight - there generally is a tight testing and approval process which should clear all doubts.

Consumers - or at least those with gardens and a little free time - do have another option. Growing one's own vegetables has caught on in the West.

There are hundreds of books which deal with the concept of the 'Kitchen Garden'. This is the best way to ensure that the foods we consume are literally garden fresh and that no chemical fertilizers/pesticides are used.

Earlier, local bodies throughout the country used to conduct home garden contests, which encouraged home owners to grow their own vegetables. This should be revived. Local authorities can help home owners by providing guidance and seeds/plants. The media too must play a pivotal role in this exercise.

One could argue whether all this entails going back to the past. In a way, yes. There is a certain appeal to organic farming in that it is friendly to the Earth, the plants and to humans. But it might not be possible to halt the use of chemicals altogether in agriculture. A fine balance between the two will be more practical and useful. In the meantime, pro-active steps must be taken to educate farmers and others who need access to pesticides about the dangers associated with the misuse of chemical formulations.

Legislation alone cannot ensure compliance in this instance - it should come from within the farming community.