Chemical fertiliser use to be curtailed in Boralanda

By Lalin Fernandopulle

The application of chemical fertiliser and pesticides on crops in the Uva province will be reduced with more educational and alternative fertiliser application programs, said Welimda Divisional Secretary W. Wijenayake at a ceremony organised by Cargills Ceylon Limited to present scholarships and schooling material to children of farmers in Wangikumbura, Boralanda last week.

Wijenayake said that the use of chemical fertiliser in the Uva province was still high and added that steps need to be taken to reduce the application of such fertiliser which is harmful to health.

The number of patients with kidney ailments in the province has increased due to the consumption of fruits and vegetables produced using chemical fertiliser. The Uva province is ranked as the highest user of chemical fertiliser.

“A series of educational programs will be launched with farmer organisation and private sector institutions to create awareness on the adverse impact of use of chemical fertiliser on agricultural crops,” the Divisional Secretary said.

A research officer of the Bandarawela Agricultural Research Institute said that soil tests have revealed the high application of chemical fertiliser and pesticides which is injurious to health.

He said that farmers ignore the specifications for fertiliser application and use high doses of fertiliser and pesticides to protect crops and increase production. “A national program to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser and revert to natural fertiliser is vital to save the large amount of money spent on healthcare each year,” he said.

A farmer of Boralanda, K.J. Jayaratne said that he cannot do away with the use of chemical fertiliser completely as it helps him to earn more during the off season.Vegetable farmers in the area said that they face difficulties due to low income as a result of the drop in vegetable prices.

“Over the past six months our earnings have dropped due to the decline in prices,” a farmer said. Cargills Ceylon Limited, Deputy General Manager, Agriculture, Haridas Fernando said that a program will be launched to educate farmers on the proper application of fertiliser and minimise over-use. He said that the company has helped reduce post harvest loss from around 35 percent to around eight percent due to the use of plastic crates for transportation and cold room storage facilities.