“Whole-Some Agriculture” For A “Toxin-Free Nation” ?
By Chandre Dharmawardana –March 10, 2016
Prof. Chandre Dharmawardana
The President unveiled a three-year program put forward by the agriculture minister, promising a “toxin free nation” based on ”wholesome agriculture”. The minsters as well as Ven. Athuraliye Ratana are acting with what they believe are the best interests of the people. That “modern agriculture” is responsible for an alleged deterioration of public health is a common belief among the more affluent “concerned individuals” all over the world, and not just in Sri Lanka. This is often coupled with proposals to return to “traditional ways” of doing things, and opposing genetically modified foods “at all costs”!
What are the most important toxins consumed by the public? The very day that the “Toxin-free nation” was heralded, a newspaper reports that “Mountain-Dew” has been approved for Sri Lanka. We already have Coke, Pepsi, etc., and local carbonated drinks, all containing at least five table spoons of sugar per cup! They contain high amounts of phosphates and other additives. Sugar is a major toxin that causes innumerable illnesses like diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancer, allergies etc. But no one is ready to ban sugar. It is “traditional” to consume whole-fat buffalo curd and palm “treacle” and other “traditional” Sri Lankan deserts based on treacle. In ancient times, ordinary people lived at subsistence level and ate rich food rarely. Thus corpulence and a big belly, known as a “ping bandiya” were signs of aristocratic bearing and high status!
Another class of ubiquitous toxins is spewed all over the country by diesel and motor engines and even by kerosene cookers. These are class-I carcinogens in the World Health Organization list, i.e., they definitely cause cancer. These toxins accumulate in the fatty layers of the body and cause chronic diseases. But we use the largest fraction of the national income to import these toxins and vehicles, instead of using electric vehicles and trains. We are even going to use coal-fired power in this “toxin-free nation” and please the Indians who sell coal!
