Economic Development Through Toxin Free Agriculture
Rumal Siriwardena
Capacity building workshops for farmers of the Trincomalee district onclimate change adaptation for agriculture, through the implementation of toxin free, organic farming and crop diversification was held 23rd March, 2016, in Padavishripura and Morawewa. The workshops were organized by SLYCAN Trust in partnership with the Nagenahiru Development Society as part of a programme to educate the farmers on the impacts of climate change to the agricultural sector, and how adapting to the impacts through crop diversified farming.
Understanding Climatic Impacts on Agriculture
Speaking at the event, Eastern Province Provincial Council Member Mr. Priyantha Pathirana said, “It is important that farmers understand the impacts of climate change and the need for adapting to them in the simplistic form. It is a day to day reality, and we experience in real life. It is important that farmer communities are educated on how to adapt, and how agriculture could be adapted to minimize the impacts of climate change to the agriculture sector.”
He further elaborated on the need to empower communities to stand up on their own, and not to be living with a dependency based mindset. He added that communities which are poor could develop economically if there was the correct mindset, and the build capacity to empower them in their decision making.
Shifting from Toxin Based to Organic Farming
Programme Coordinator for SLYCAN Trust Mr. Kavindu Ediriweera, the implementing entity of the project expressed his view on the implementation of the project. He said, “It is important for farmers to understand that there is an alternate option to chemical fertilizer based farming. Many do not turn to organic and toxin free agriculture mainly because they do not have the sufficient technical knowledge to implement it. The workshops are designed to address this need, and to encourage farmers to move towards organic and crop diversified farming.”
