{"id":85451,"date":"2019-02-09T18:37:01","date_gmt":"2019-02-10T01:37:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=85451"},"modified":"2019-02-09T18:37:01","modified_gmt":"2019-02-10T01:37:01","slug":"using-agrochemicals-safely-and-avoiding-environmentally-harmful-organic-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2019\/02\/09\/using-agrochemicals-safely-and-avoiding-environmentally-harmful-organic-farming\/","title":{"rendered":"Using agrochemicals safely and avoiding environmentally harmful Organic farming."},"content":{"rendered":"

Chandre Dharmawardana, Canada.<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

It is gratifying that several writers have taken up\u00a0 the vital topic of pesticide use in agriculture (6th<\/sup>\u00a0 of February, Island).\u00a0 Dr. Ranil Sananayake (RS)\u00a0 has claimed to\u00a0 rebut\u201d\u00a0 what I wrote. I stated\u00a0 that our soils are NOT laden with toxic agrochemicals, and that they support a thriving ecosystem full of\u00a0 bugs and worms. They attract\u00a0 egrets\u00a0 and other birds when the soil is tilled. I claimed that\u00a0 the\u00a0 crops from our soils are safe to eat. RS seems to hold that\u00a0\u00a0 our soils are full of toxic agrochemical residues\u00a0 that have harmed biodiversity.\u00a0 Dr. Anura Widanapathirana (AW) has called for ‘proper controls on pesticide use’ and I\u00a0 agree with most of his views.<\/p>\n

RS\u00a0 says There are only Egrets left (and sometime a few Ibis), these are the most resistant to toxins in the chemically changed paddy fields we have today….The earthworms and bugs … are again only those species with a high degree of tolerance, the rest have disappeared\u201d. He\u00a0 proceeds to a personal categorization of me as\u00a0 carrying on some narrow minded personal vendetta against, other Sri Lankans (misguided or not) to bolster … the economically utilitarian view of the world …. In this, he shares the stage with … politicians and bureaucrats who believe that development is only measured by the GDP. Public health … is of little consequence\u201d. Surely, Dr. RS\u00a0 is unaware that our politicians believe only\u00a0 in aggrandizing their own pockets and not the GDP!\u00a0\u00a0 He accuses me\u00a0 of\u00a0 colossal ignorance … in ornithological history and confusion with the soil ecosystems of highly fertilized (HF) and traditionally farmed (TF) fields\u201d<\/p>\n

I had nowhere claimed that development is only measured by the GDP, or ever given one-parameter explanations of complex entities like\u00a0 an economy or a ecosystem.\u00a0\u00a0 I was NOT comparing HF systems and TF fields.\u00a0 The main concern\u00a0 was whether the HF soil is full of harmful agrochemical toxins or not, and my answer has been that\u00a0 field studies\u00a0 have shown that the toxin levels even after several decades of agrochemical use and indeed MIS-USE, are well below the maximum tolerable levels (MTL) set by the WHO and the FAO.<\/p>\n

In answering Mr. Siri Pathirana who identifies himself as a simple farmer, it seemed better to use the flocking of birds to paddy fields rather than\u00a0 give technical data or references to the scientific literature. It was Dr. Sarath Amarasiri, an ex-Director General of Agriculture who initially used this very apt indicator of a healthy soil in popular discussions, and I concur with him.<\/p>\n

Dr. RS, after accusing me of colossal ignorance of ornithological history\u201d, proceeds to show his colossal knowledge of the subject by essentially claiming that the\u00a0 loss of biodiversity is caused by\u00a0 a single cause\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0 the\u00a0 use of toxic\u201d agrochemicals\u00a0 in\u00a0 highly fertilized agriculture.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of course, only the colossally knowledgeable would dare to present such single-cause explanations of complex issues like ornithological or\u00a0 other\u00a0 types of biodiversity.\u00a0 However, just as the simplified\u00a0\u00a0 five-lesson political analysis of the early JVP was very attractive to\u00a0 many members of the public,\u00a0 the simplistic theory that agrochemicals are THE cause of loss of biodiversity and most health problems – be it kidney disease or\u00a0 alzheimer –\u00a0 finds\u00a0 easy credence with the\u00a0 populace. Hence the rise of\u00a0 the likes of Ven. Ratana, Vandana Shiva in India, and\u00a0 similar\u00a0 Green champions\u201d in many countries, claiming that we must return to\u00a0 natural\u201d agriculture;\u00a0 some even reject vaccinations, immunizations, fluoridation of water,\u00a0 and other public health initiatives.<\/p>\n

How can Dr. RS say that earthworms and egrets are the most hardy against agro-toxins? He should\u00a0 give\u00a0 a quantitative criterion (e.g., the LP50 values\/weight) before he rushes to print. Only the Pope can make unsubstantiated ex-cathedra statements, being allegedly infallible when he speaks on matters of the faith.<\/p>\n

The earthworm is a most sensitive creature widely used by scientists as a barometer of soil health. At a more microscopic level, the total micro-organism biomass, as well as, say,\u00a0\u00a0 the distribution of the mass spectrum of the micro-organisms can be used as measures of the health of the soil. If we consider a widely used agrochemical like glyphosate,\u00a0 numerous\u00a0 studies show how earthworms become healthier when the naturally or industrially occurring soil cadmium and other trace heavy metals are made insoluble by the glyphosate residues that reach the soil during spraying.\u00a0 For a recent study, see:\u00a0 Zhou et al, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, vol. 33, p 2351-2357 (2014). Similarly, regarding the effect of glyphosate formulations on soil microbes\u00a0 and microbial community structure, see: Lane et al, Pedobiologia, vol. 55, pages 325-342 (2012).<\/p>\n

Dr. Widanapathirana also makes anecdotal claims\u00a0 of\u00a0 loss of biodiversity, e.g.,\u00a0 that there are fewer leeches, both on land and in water. However, is this predominantly caused by agrochemicals? Dr. W does not say that\u00a0 harmful levels of pesticides\u00a0 are found in the Sri Lankan environments. It is true that hosphate levels in water rise above tolerable thresholds seasonally and produce algae blooms.\u00a0 But there is ample evidence that the ambient pesticide-residue levels remain well below the tolerable maxima. The WHO-NSF study on Chronic Kidney disease examined the pesticide levels and metal toxins in the North Central Province (Jayatilleke et al 2014) and found amounts well below WHO specifications. There are many other studies that support the same conclusion. For instance, the study reported by Aravinna et al. [Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, vol. 52, p. 37\u201347. (2016) ]\u00a0 confirms the lack of significant amounts of pesticide residues in Sr Lanka’s environment. The WHO thresholds are set, mindful of\u00a0 bio-magnification of pesticide residues on plant uptake.<\/p>\n

Dr Widanapathirana says that In contrast, the paddy fields in Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are full of fish and other edible creatures\u201d and suggest that these countries use less agrochemicals. World bank data for agrochemical use taken as they are<\/em>\u00a0 confirm what Dr. W says. However,\u00a0\u00a0 their\u00a0 fertilizer inputs to paddy fields are similar to those of Sri Lanka when the very high usage in\u00a0 tea estates is factored out. But there is no doubt that, optimally, much less fertilizer would be used\u00a0 if the free market in agrochemicals is abolished.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

So, while the residual pesticide load is low,\u00a0 Sri Lanka’s environment, both rural and urban,\u00a0 is full of partially oxidized\u00a0 petroleum, kerosene and\u00a0 diesel residues, with vast amounts of highly toxic particulate matter. I n addition, garbage containing plastics are regularly burnt in urban and rural locations. The ambient amounts of\u00a0 toxins in the air greatly exceed\u00a0 WHO specifications by factors pf thousands. Toxins from fossil-fuel exhaust have a marked effect on biodiversity, especially as they occur at levels above\u00a0 thresholds. But those who wish to ban agrochemicals and wax eloquent\u00a0 about traditional farming remain mum about adopting traditional transport. Green\u201d politicians like Ven. Ratana, and the not-so Green ones import and sell their duty-free cars on the black market!\u00a0 Furthermore, politicians are pushing for the installation of coal-fired power stations which are notorious for their polluting effects as well as their capacity to fill their bank accounts with commissions.<\/p>\n

Loss of bird biodiversity will be reflected at every level of an ecology, be it butterflies, bees, earthworms, earwigs or amoebas.\u00a0\u00a0 It is common to find e-mail messages from the so-called AVAAZ team\u201d soliciting\u00a0 donations to fight\u00a0 agribusiness claiming\u00a0 that bees all over the world are\u00a0 decimated\u00a0 by agrochemicals. This is similar to\u00a0 Dr. Senanayake\u00a0 directly equating the loss of bird biodiversity\u00a0 to toxic agrochemicals. Interestingly, contrary to the claim of the AVAAZ team, the populations of bees have increased by 40%\u00a0 according to\u00a0 Prof. David Goulson of Oxford University and collaborators ( Science\u00a0 27th<\/sup>\u00a0 Mar 2015: Vol. 347, page 1255957 ). What has been decreasing rather dramatically\u00a0 are the\u00a0 WILD BEES. If some whiffs of the spray\u00a0 of neonicotinoids are claimed to spread even to the wild bees and affect them, then\u00a0 why aren’t\u00a0 the honey bees similarly affected?<\/p>\n

While pesticides and other secondary causes like the emergence of new types of parasites play a secondary role, the MAIN REASON\u00a0 for the decline of wild bees, butterflies, leeches etc., and indeed the decline of\u00a0 biodiversity in general is the LOSS OF WILDERNESS\u00a0 HABITAT. Human encroachment, be it for housing, roads or organic farming, destroys habitat. The destruction of habitat for\u00a0 human use since independence in Sri Lanka has been truly extensive, given a population increase of a factor of\u00a0 four.\u00a0 Biodiversity has been the victim. However, adopting organic farming makes matters worse\u00a0 (see:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/moving-from-conventional-farming-to-organic-farming-jumping-from-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire\/<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Organic farming needs two to four times\u00a0 land and water to obtain the same yields as with hybrid seeds using methods of modern intense agriculture etc.,\u00a0 that\u00a0 require no tilling (i.e., no erosion and\u00a0\u00a0 less agrochemical runoff). In contrast, organic agriculture causes grater habitat loss and erosion.\u00a0 The research report by\u00a0 high-priests of organic farming headed by Dr. Adrian Mueller of the Swiss institute of Organic agriculture\u00a0 implicitly verify\u00a0 these negatives of organic farming (For further details,\u00a0 see: http:\/\/dh-web.org\/place.names\/posts\/CD-Mueller-OrganicL.pdf<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Dr. Widanapathirana\u00a0 emphasizes the need for effective controls\u00a0 and farmer education. I fully concur with him. In fact, it is not just farmers, but also the general public who must be made aware of the safe use of agrochemicals. During my tenure as a Professor of Chemistry and a Vice-Chancellor of a Sri Lankan University in the mid-1970s, I took pains to introduce\u00a0 mandatory course units in environmental science to our science graduates. We also introduced, for the first time, specialized courses in food science and technology to deliver healthy food to the public.\u00a0 Unfortunately this does not seem to be true of current course content in Sri Lankan B.Sc courses.<\/p>\n

Agrochemicals should be controlled (not banned) within a precautionary principle, almost as with pharmaceuticals. Every substance becomes a toxin \u2013 be it vitamins or even salt and pepper\u00a0 \u2013\u00a0 if the recommended dose is exceeded. The same is true for soil toxicity. It is the technical officers of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) who should issue permits for releasing\u00a0 optimal amounts of fertilizer and pesticide needed by each customer, depending on the local conditions and the cultivation cycle.\u00a0 The DOA officials can advise the farmers on crop rotation techniques etc., that can be used to reduce the needed pesticide and fertilizer inputs.<\/p>\n

In fact, a rudimentary control system existed prior to 1977, but\u00a0 it was axed on the alter of the free market when Mudalalis \u2013 i.e., henchmen of the local politicians \u2013 began\u00a0 to sell agrochemicals for as much profit as possible, together with other general merchandise.<\/p>\n

Dr Ranil Senanayake quotes Hon. DS Senanayake, a great agriculturist and Prime Minister who pushed forward modern farming, modern irrigation, and unhesitatingly used DDT to combat malaria.\u00a0 Hon. DS Senanayake had said that \u2018Development of our nation should be measured by the larder of the poorest of its homes\u2019. Indeed, if RS expects the poorest of the land to stock their larders with organic rice at\u00a0 5-10 times the price of normal rice, and with bottles of spring\u201d water\u00a0 (in a plastic bottle to boot !), then\u00a0 he does not realize that some 40% of our school children come to school hungry.<\/p>\n

Chandre Dharmawardana, Canada.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chandre Dharmawardana, Canada. It is gratifying that several writers have taken up\u00a0 the vital topic of pesticide use in agriculture (6th\u00a0 of February, Island).\u00a0 Dr. Ranil Sananayake (RS)\u00a0 has claimed to\u00a0 rebut\u201d\u00a0 what I wrote. I stated\u00a0 that our soils are NOT laden with toxic agrochemicals, and that they support a thriving ecosystem full of\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chandre-dharmawardana"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85451\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}