The ban on chemical fertilizers has been a trending topic recently. Although the proposal has been put on hold, it will be implemented in the future. As the country is moving towards Organic farming, the question is whether organic farming practices can supply the adequate food demand in the country. According to experts, it will take us about five to ten years to completely convert to organic farming from conventional farming. But it is not an easy task to convert a whole country to organic within 24 hours. It needs the dedication and sacrifice of government officials and as well as the farmers.
Pros
1. Reduction of use of hazardous agrochemicals and fertilizers
Sri Lanka is the highest in agrochemical used countries in the entire world as it uses 287 units per hectares. It contributes to water pollution and contamination. And finally making the water bodies eutrophicated.[A]. Scientists and researchers have found out that nitrate contamination in drinking water is one of the major concerns which causes severe health impacts, such as methemoglobinemia, especially in infants and oesophageal and stomach cancers.[B]. Also it some scholars believe that sudden increment of chronic kidney disease in the dry zone is affected by the high agrochemical use.
2. Healthy soil and less soil erosion
If we use harmful pesticides and chemicals to the soil, we may end up with soil that cannot thrive on its own. To produce healthy food, we must have healthy soil. Natural cultivation practices are far better than chemical soil management.
It is obvious that organic farming builds up organic soil matter better than conventional no-till farming.
Not only does organic farming build healthy soil, but it helps combat serious soil and land issues, such as erosion. In Sri Lanka, 11.8% of the area is under a high hazard level of erosion and 4.8% of the area is under a very high level of hazard.
3. Healthier food
As organic vegetables and fruits are grown free from pesticides and weedicides, they are healthier than conventionally grown food. Recently it is found out that most of the leafy vegetables in Sri Lanka are contaminated by heavy metals.
< Read more: Heavy metal contamination of leafy vegetables in Sri Lanka >
 |
4.Potential export market
The demand for organic food products is growing globally. The sales of organic food products have grown by 20% in the USA. Even in Sri Lanka, the demand is growing for organic food products.
Cons
< Read more: Sri Lankan Government moves to ban chemical fertilizers >
1. Cultivation of economic crops
If the fertilizer ban applies to vegetables, fruits, and grains, those disadvantages and impacts will directly affect the consumers. But what if export crops such as tea, coconut, rubber, and cinnamon do not get fertilizer, it will have a direct impact on the economy. Despite the impact of garments and foreign employment on the economy, tea, coconut, rubber, and export crops play a significant role in the country's economy contributing 0.5-0.6% to the Gross domestic product in 2016 [1]. So, if the fertilizer supply is stopped, it could affect the yield of tea leaves, rubber milk, and coconuts in the long run. If that happens, the tea industry, which is currently struggling, could go into a catastrophe. As researchers have identified yield reduction as a major threat to tea cultivation after converting to the organic field [2].
2. Adapted Conventional method for years
People have become accustomed to using herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides from the time of land preparation. The same goes for the vegetables. Farmers have been accustomed to adding chemical fertilizers from time to time, for generations. It is difficult to change these habits. Paddy farmers are still getting relief from manure. At the same time, farmers have come to see the application of fertilizers as an integral part of farming. It is not easy to turn that situation into organic fertilizer.
3. Coordination and adaption
Applying pesticides and fertilizers is a widespread practice. This means that if paddy is sown and fertilizers and herbicides are applied from time to time, the journey becomes accustomed to it to some extent. But it is not practical to focus on organic farming with only one or a few farmers. Even if a farmer cultivates only one field organically, his crop may be susceptible to disease due to poor nutrition and low pesticide application. The same goes for vegetable cultivation.
4. Adequate organic fertilizer
In the case of chemical fertilizers, the concentration of the relevant element is increased. Then we can apply a little fertilizer to the crop. Chemical fertilizers are easy to apply. But the composition varies according to the material and method of making organic fertilizer. There is a good amount of nitrogen in manure types like chicken manures. However, green manures contain fewer nutrients. So we have to apply more fertilizer. Usually, two to three bales of chemical fertilizer can be applied to an acre of the vegetable garden. But if manure is applied as organic manure, a large tractor needs to be filled with manure. As they contain small amounts of nitrogen and other required nutrients by the plants.Chicken manure contains 0.5% to 0.9% nitrogen, 0.4% to 0.5% phosphorus, and 1.2% to 1.7 % potassium.[3]
5. Higher prices of organic produce
Organically grown vegetables and fruits are pretty low. It's not only expensive. In general, even organic vegetables are still quite expensive. So, if the fertilizer ban is introduced island-wide, the country will run out of food and prices will go up. Then it will be an issue that directly affects the poor people of the country. Even farmers are few who cultivate everything they want like coconut growers buy rice and vegetables for money. And paddy farmers buy coconuts for their consumption likewise. So even if the price of coconut goes up, they will have to pay more for other needs and even farmers will not be able to sustain just because the price paid by the consumers goes up.
< Read more: Sri Lanka to import frozen coconuts >
6. Improved seeds and agrochemicals
Improved by hybrid technology, fruits and vegetables bear fruit quickly and produce a record yield. When we harvest more we have to spray chemical fertilizers and agrochemicals. Crops such as brinjal and eggplant, which have a soft surface, are susceptible to worms. How to grow vegetables without agrochemicals in large-scale commercial cultivation is a question beyond the imagination of the farmer.
A lot of money is being pumped out of our country for agrochemicals and seeds. That is a fact. But if decisions are taken to change it at once, not only the agricultural harvest but also the food problems of the Sri Lankan people could come to the fore. Therefore, it is necessary to mobilize farmers on television and social media as well as for the ban on fertilizers.
Disclaimer: This is a blog post and can not be used as a citation or reference to a scientific paper. The article may include the author's ideas and views.
It is free to leave your ideas and criticism in the comment section.
References -(Not in a standard format )
[a] http://news.agropages.com/News/NewsDetail---11341-e.htm#:~:text=Sri%20Lanka%20is%20the%20highest,Shanthi%20Mendis%2C%20has%20declared.
[b]https://academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR/article-abstract/952E11E64329
[1] https://www.ips.lk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Disna_IPS-Export-promotion.pdf
[2]file:///C:/Users/General%20Stores/Downloads/K.N.%20Selvaraj.pdf
[3]https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/raising-chickens/chicken-manure-fertilizer-zm0z13amzkon
.jpeg)
0 Comments