Have proper control of pesticide use
February 5, 2019, 10:19 pm
Reference the article "Pesticides then, now and toxin free nation" published in your newspaper on Feb. 04, Point 1- Blame is levelled against activities of multi-national pesticides companies for the excessive sale of this group of chemicals. What we need to realize is that companies are doing their normal business activity on which we should not have a grouse. Rather, what is critical is that our regulatory system and channels of communication with the farming community have become much less effective. The laws and regulatory system have been confined to the book only, which is an extremely sad state of affairs. Why is the government sleeping on this grave issue? Why does it not bring about a good level of coordination between manufacturers/traders and the farming community?
Point 2- The article quoting WHO recommendation states that DDT is safe to use on domestic pest control and not in agriculture. However, we know quite well that it is extremely difficult to control its use in agriculture for two reasons: first, farmers are not quite informed and educated about this issue and, second the control mechanism administered by the government has been so weak that it is virtually impossible to restrict DDT use by farmers.
Point 3- There is a wealth of information on the adverse repercussions caused by the use of pesticides on our farmland. The adverse impacts include the death of fish and aquatic lives, development of resistance in both pests and weeds to applied chemicals, water and soil pollution, human poisoning and so on. As a child I recall the huge volume of a variety of fish species that were found in our paddy fields in the 1960s that is almost completely extinct now. The leech (diya kudella) which was abundant in streams and paddy fields in the 1960s is no more. In fact, I don’t recall seeing a diya kudella in a wet zone area since 1970s. The same applies to goda kudella. Accordingly, there is no dispute about the loss of fish and other beneficial insects and creatures as a result of indiscriminate use of pesticides on our farmland, inclusive of paddy fields. The author of the referenced article makes reference to the presence of egrets in paddy fields and uses this observation to prove that chemical residue level on paddy fields is still not high enough. This is based on insufficient scientific evidence? Do we know the type of creatures picked up by these birds now compared to before? Remember we have lost almost all fish and other useful creatures in our paddy fields. Do we know whether the birds have developed resistance to chemical residues and that continued dependence on paddy field creatures do not make adverse impacts in the short term?
In contrast, the paddy fields in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are full of fish and other edible creatures beneficial to human beings. Paddy fields creatures are a rich source of protein, minerals, etc. by way of fish and insects that provide a number of employment, food and income opportunities to local people. Early in the morning, paddy fields are full of people (boys, girls and women in particular) who catch fish, insects and other creatures for sale in the market. In the meantime, insect sorting, cleaning and packing provide productive engagement for the disabled people. The level of use of pesticides in paddy fields in the above countries is still far below compared to fields in Sri Lanka.
Point 4- The import of fresh plant and animal matter into Sri Lanka is controlled in theory by relevant legislation. Unfortunately, the import of such materials by the public is not effectively controlled and monitored. The import of fresh material by big businesses and organized groups of people is altogether another critical issue; the level of control exercised by authorities on such activities is a matter the author does not want to comment on. The author has witnessed that individuals can bring in any such item possibly concealed in their luggage and evades being inspected by authorities. It is no secret that every piece of luggage brought by a passenger is subject to either physical inspection, X-ray search or both in other countries, inclusive of both developed (New Zealand, Australia) and developing (Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, Tajikistan). This is a good practice to curtail the introduction of foreign pests into the country at port of entry. It is sad this good practice is not implemented in this country in spite of the presence of legislative mechanism.
Point 5- The relaxed style of Customs inspections (mentioned under point 4), absence of regular field monitoring, and co-ordination of all relevant agencies, documentation and reporting activities should be blamed for the proliferation of pests and diseases on Sri Lankan soils.
Point 6- The lack of training and research should also be pointed as reasons that have contributed to the surge of pest and disease populations. One special case is that the cause for CKDU is remains to be identified.
Point 7- The use of organic methods of pests and disease control that our ancestors utilized before, are almost extinct. However, there are several agencies and few farmers who have successfully implemented organic methods of crops and animal protection. The experiences that are around us should be evaluated and knowledge made known to the public. Such technologies should be further researched, knowledge dispersed for the benefit of farming community, facilities provided for them to adopt and results documented. There is an extremely lethargic attitude toward such activities on which the relevant public agencies should be blamed.
Point 8- The farmer education and monitoring of pesticide use by them were mentioned above. In fact, farmers in this country practice harmful methods of pesticide use that are not observed in the developed world. Farmers still use pesticides on their crops just a day prior to the crop being harvested. The author, during a recent visit to the Jaffna Peninsula, observed that the use of pesticides by farmers is not monitored. Few local people informed the author that the unregulated and ignorant methods of chemical use are a big problem that is going on unregulated and unmonitored. The use of pesticides in the developed countries is well monitored, and the author has not come across a single farmer in New Zealand who uses harmful chemicals on crops 1-2 days before harvest. The chemical use is stopped at least 10-14 days before the crop is harvested.
ANURA WIDANAPATHIRANA Ph D
