News
Lankan farmers at risk of using highly hazardous agrochemicals
By Ifham Nizam
The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) yesterday said that the latest study by the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) had revealed that Sri Lankan farmers were at a risk of using highly hazardous agrochemicals.
CEJ Research Scientist Chalani H. Rubesinghe yesterday said that according to the Code of conduct on pesticide management, highly hazardous pesticides meant chemicals presenting high levels of acute or chronic hazards to health or environment according to internationally accepted classification systems of the WHO or Global Harmonized System (GHS) or their listing in relevant binding international agreements or conventions.
In addition, pesticides that appear to cause severe or irreversible harm to health or the environment under conditions of use in a country may be considered to be and treated as highly hazardous”.The study followed the stratified convenience sampling method, using 367 individuals engaged in Paddy, Vegetable, Maize, Fruit, Exotic crops, ornamental plants, Spices, and Tea cultivations in 09 districts of Sri Lanka.
According to the data gathered in this survey, there were seven (7) pesticides used among farmers that are listed under the PAN International List of Highly Hazardous Pesticides.Captan is a common and popular fungicide which was used in several crop categories. Marshal 20 is another popular insecticide among farmers. However, most of the farmers were unaware of the names of the agrochemicals they use (they commonly called all pesticides as Panubeheth) or were reluctant to reveal the names. Thus, the percentage use revealed in this study may not imply the actual percentage used by farmers of these agrochemicals.
The survey also revealed that farmers did not follow the recommended dose in practice therefore, it was difficult to collect data on volumes used. Mixing two or more pesticides to obtain high efficiency was a common practice and they were unaware of the potential harmful effects of this practice, on themselves as well as on the environment.
The prevalence of Kidney problems among farmers is a well-known fact, which was also revealed in this study. However, one of the interesting findings in this survey was the prevalence of Asthma among paddy, vegetable, tea, maze and fruit cultivators . Although it could be related to pollen in maize cultivation, the relationship of the disease to the other cultivations needs to be further studied to identify any potential relationship to the use of agrochemicals. In addition, Diabetes, low back pain, cancers, and headaches were also among short-term and long-term health issues encountered among farmers.
The Supreme Court’s opinion on the 22nd Constitutional Amendment is expected to be handed over to Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne today (21).
The SC opinion is likely to be presented to Parliament tomorrow (22), ahead of the debate on the Bill scheduled for September 24 and 25.
The debate is expected to continue until late in the evening as a large number of MPs are due to speak on the proposed amendment.
Speaker Wickramaratne, who was in China on an official visit, returned to the country on Saturday (19).
Meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business has been scheduled for today.
A parliamentary spokesperson said it was not immediately clear why the Committee had been summoned for an emergency meeting when parliamentary business for next week had already been decided.
By Chaminda Silva
The ongoing El Niño weather pattern has affected 169,071 people from 51,959 families in 39 Divisional Secretariat Divisions across 10 districts, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said yesterday.
The DMC said measures were being taken to provide drinking water to 142,219 people from 43,378 families affected by the prevailing dry weather.
The affected districts are Ampara, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Batticaloa, Hambantota, Matale, Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and Vavuniya, with Monaragala recording the highest number of affected people.
In Monaragala, 42,565 people from 13,062 families in seven Divisional Secretariat Divisions have been affected, while drinking water is being distributed to affected communities.
Matale has reported 37,512 affected people from 11,792 families. Drinking water is being supplied to 18,273 people from 5,910 families in one Divisional Secretariat Division.
In Batticaloa, 33,394 people from 11,143 families have been affected, with drinking water being distributed across eight Divisional Secretariat Divisions.
The Irrigation Department has warned of possible minor floods in low-lying areas along the Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga following heavy rainfall in their upstream catchment areas.
The Irrigation Department said considerable rainfall had been recorded in the Kuda Ganga sub-basin of the Kalu Ganga by 9.30 am yesterday (20).
An analysis of the prevailing rainfall and water levels at hydrological stations along the Kalu Ganga indicates the possibility of minor floods in low-lying areas of the Kuda Ganga and Maguru Ganga valleys, particularly in the Bulathsinhala, Madurawala and Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariat divisions. The Department has warned that roads running through the flood plains of the two rivers are particularly vulnerable to inundation.
Residents in low-lying areas and motorists using roads in the affected areas are urged to exercise caution. Disaster management authorities have also been requested to take necessary precautionary measures.
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