The
Sri Lankan government is taking short and long term measures to control the
indiscriminate usage of chemical fertilizer and agrochemicals by the farmers due to the rising incidences of chronic
kidney diseases in the agricultural areas of the island, Ceynews reported. According
to the government sources the country is experiencing adverse effects of the
use of chemical fertilizer and agrochemicals introduced to increase crop
productivity and ensure food security.
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Although Sri Lanka has become self-sufficient in rice and some other crops, the adverse effects of chemical usage such as damage to bio-diversity, contamination of water and soil due to chemical substances leading to various health problems, particularly renal diseases in agricultural areas such as North Central and Eastern Provinces, are becoming costly for the country.
The Sub-Committee chaired by the Senior Minister for Rural Affairs Athauda Seneviratne and attended by 13 Ministers has recommended 19 long term measures and 10 short terms measures in their report. Secretaries to the relevant ministries and 58 scientists were also involved in the deliberations and the Committee has also considered the proposals submitted by the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena in making the recommendations.
Among
the short-term measures recommended are the maximum utilization of easily
available organic substances for cultivations, encouraging farmers to use
organic fertilizer in addition to chemical fertilizer, increasing the
efficiency of chemical fertilizer being used in cultivations, improvement of
soil and maintaining viability of soil fertility, dissemination of compost
production with due standard and minimization of environment pollution.
Meanwhile,
a World Health Organization (WHO) study revealed
a significant increase in Chronic Kidney Disease of uncertain etiology cases
has been observed in some parts of Sri Lanka in recent years, especially in
North Central, North Western, Uva and Eastern provinces. A joint research
project conducted by the government and the WHO found that the high prevalence
of chronic kidney disease in the country's main agricultural production regions
caused by fertilizer and pesticide use. The Health Ministry, which commissioned
the WHO study, says the number of affected people in the country had grown to
450,000 although uncertainty prevails over the exact cause of the kidney
disease.
The
government has therefore, initiated measures to control the use of
agrochemicals and fertilizer consumption and promote the use of organic
fertilizer in farm lands.
