The Agricultural Issue: Ban Or Balance – Organic Or Mineral?

By Upatissa Pethiyagoda –JUNE 16, 2021

Dr. Upatissa Pethiyagoda

A recent announcement by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, at some public meeting, it is reported, announced  that all imports of agrochemicals/ fertilizers(?) will be banned and implemented with “immediate effect, despite any protests from whatever quarter, come what may”. Whether this would be applied to all “agrochemicals” or to “chemical fertilizers“, only or was to include pesticides and weed – killers as well, was not clear to me. But from the logic and spirit (tenor) of the speech, one has to be excused for deducing that it was the latter. In either case, it seems important enough to generate much public discussion, which is an encouraging trend. Concerns about motives have been raised, on why such a drastic change has suddenly surfaced. Let us be charitable and assume that the Prime Minister/President has been properly advised by competent and well-informed scientists. Again, one must assume that this is so, and justifies his apparent rigidity and inflexibility. This is without doubt, a technical matter and clarity is important. Even among competent scientists in this field, there is no unanimity. This has suddenly surfaced and become worthy of being pursued in such reckless haste. Tragically, the public has been so duped, so much in the past that only the naive remain innocently trustful. 

For true success to be achieved, candor and transparency should enter the public domain. This is the best way to secure public co-operation in so vital a matter. One has to be happy with this development. If the real reason is that we are broke – then say so. Winston Churchill, as PM in World War II times, advised the media that the public be told everything, no matter whether it is good or bad. Honesty should demand this. It is said that this had much to do with the Allies victory. Hardships, can be borne, if all suffer equally.    

The proponents who welcome the ban on Agrochemicals as a good and long overdue change, the opponents who foresee disaster in such a radical change which is bound to land us in another mess.

It also appears to some devoted ultra – traditionalists, that these frequent misfortunes that have visited us recently, result from a divine fury of the Gods (‘Deva kopaya’). They urge that the Nation’s horoscope should be submitted to a competent Astrologer, (no, no  not  to the Sumanadasa who failed once at the highest level, nor the kapurala/mason whose “Peni “ was publicly swallowed by The Senior Minister of the Triad of Health Ministers, and the Speaker of the House (one hopes, not from the same contaminated Spoon), which landed our brave and intrepid Minister in hospital care with Corona virus – despite the pots of holy water dropped in a river as additional insurance.  Nor indeed the hovering presence of the famed masseur – cum general practitioner, Dr Winkel. White, looking on from the bridge.

On this radical and critical matter, two contending groups have formed, the first being driven mostly by myths and emotion, while the latter relies on proven Science and reports in reputed journals. I am guided by recent articles, including those by Drs. C.S. Weeraratna, (27 April), Oliver. Illeperuma,( 01 May ), Chandre Dharmawardana (06 May) and the well-experienced  and reputed Dr Parakrama Waidyanatha ( 03 May) and also (Dr. N.A de S Amaratunga (06 June), who are all frequent writers and thus probably familiar to many readers of the “Opinion” columns.     Their articles have covered many aspects such as availability of raw materials, relative costs, soil fertility, soil moisture, erosion, nutrients, soil biota, earthworms, erroneous claims regarding causes of CKDU, effects on soil physical properties and dismissing some fallacies and backed by information from reputed sources.

Every government, that has been our curse since Independence (1948), have sung the same song. There have been (and are), rare individuals among the wielders of power who have been honorable, devoted, decent, and honest. But they too among today’s legislators, must share the blame for remaining silent bystanders while the duplicity and pillage goes swirling along merrily.” Those who lie with dogs will wake up with fleas,” it has been said.  I have digressed a little, because of a fear that the present fertilizer issue which is a purely a technical one, might be hijacked into petty politics and decided by peripheral (“what is there in it for me”) considerations. As a planter who strained tirelessly for his party, which eventually won, was asked “Now that your party has won, you must be utterly happy,” he looked down dejectedly, “No machang, same lump of s.,,,, t, different flies”. We have been lulled, (but not deceived) by ‘boru talk” of how convinced every government is, of the inestimable value of Science for development, and how proud we could be of the excellent quality of our scientists and how devotedly they have served our motherland. Having said these inspiring words, what do they do, but  vote billions to import luxury cars for the use of MP’s, – poor little things, awaiting their little toys  and trinkets.     

If any one doubts this critique, he has only to recall just two indices (i) with what this “priceless gem” has been coupled with, when forming Cabinets. I remember two: – “Ministry of Industries and Scientific Affairs”, and (hold your breath), “Ministry of Housing and Scientific Affairs”. So be honest and admit that it was just to secure a majority in some equally useless entity. There might sometimes even be a “Ministry of Sports and Scientific Affairs,” or even a coupling with Batiks, Pottery and Brassware. As for the top administrative management hierarchy, a greatly respected colleague lamented “The first fellow did not read anything, the next read but did not understand and the third fellow read but misunderstood”. A more outspoken one commented of a “political implant ““Oh that bloke? He cannot tell his ………..hole from his elbow. ” But to return to the subject, (ii) compare the dole grudgingly provided by the State towards the Annual Budget of two of our prestigious and top scientific bodies- NASSL and SLAAS as running costs with for instance, the daily cost of a Parliamentary sitting, or the monthly rental said to have been paid to a buddy for an unoccupied, building to house a very important Ministry that already has it’s premises. These will show the level of respect for the value of Science in the minds of our Legislature.

In contrast, I had the privilege of attending the opening ceremony of a massive new Headquarters building for the South Korean Academy of Science. It was a huge, multi-storied construction in the Centre of Seoul, built at a cost of twenty five million US dollars. Funds were available for hosting of many guests (which included eight Nobel Laureates). The Academy was free to rent the huge surplus space beyond their needs, to supplement the Annual Grant of around five Million (US).

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