Dire consequences of import ban on fertiliser and agrochemicals

Farmers protesting the fertiliser issue

Based on research studies, it is well known that organic manure in combination with chemical fertiliser will give the optimum results and that organic manure alone cannot lead to high yields, unless you add very large amounts ( > 5 mt/ha.).It is best if such manure is prepared in situ, on-farm in order to avoid the cost and hassle of transporting such large amounts. Of course, to meet the needs of urban growers and very small holdings, small packs are already available in the market. It is also known that organic manure/material is a soil conditioner which improves soil structure and the water holding capacity of the soil, aiding in nutrient absorption by the plant roots. However, it is chemical fertiliser that provides plant nutrients to plants in appreciable amounts, to enable them to respond favourably by way of yield, in keeping with their genetic potential.

Enough has been written to the press in recent times by a number of scientists of repute, highlighting the consequences that will have to be faced due to the overnight import ban on fertiliser, supported by scientific facts of relevance. But it is apparent that the Government which is also obsessed with an un-scientific notion that chemical fertilizer contains poisons, is adamant on the decision to ban the import of fertiliser. This means Sri Lanka will have to face dire consequences arising from that very soon, which will melt down to a marked drop in crop production across the board, that will adversely affect national food security, farmer incomes and livelihood, plantation sector performance, national income levels plus a number of other factors. There will soon come a time when substantial quantities of food will have to be imported, to keep up with food security and the savings in foreign exchange made through banning of fertiliser imports will be counterproductive.

In the emerging pathetic scenario, as a retired Agriculturist from the Government sector, I noted with utter disdain, the silence of the authorities in charge of the key Government institutions responsible for the crop sector, viz. Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Export Agriculture, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Tea Research Institute, Rubber Research Institute and the Coconut Research Institute, going by the lack of any evidence of voices, if any, raised by them, or Associations of professional officers working for these institutions, in response to this import ban, which will affect all crops adversely.

What we see in the media are only the scenes of the poor farmers protesting to high heavens almost daily these days, about their terrible plight in view of this import ban, to no avail. After all, they are the frontline recipients of this big blow to their enterprise and sheer livelihood as they feel the brunt of it and know through experience for sure, that fertiliser is a must to go for a good yield, given the other factors. Apparently, these poor farmers have no one to go to, and there is no Government institution to take up their cause, thus leaving them helpless.

In the midst of this, I ventured to casually contact a former boss of mine, in the DOA, in the early 1970s, who later became the Director of Agriculture (Head of the DOA), and retired many years ago. I inquired from him, about steps, if any, that he would have taken if the then Government decided to ban the import of fertiliser at the time he was the Director Agriculture. He said that he would have definitely taken up the matter and recorded his protest with facts, as fertiliser is such a vital input for all crops under the purview of the DOA. He also said that at present, relevant officials are “keeping mum” and that he is surprised about it.

Based on the foregoing, this is a very unfortunate situation at a time when we apparently do not have Government officials who will stand up to what is right for the country, based on scientific facts, and consequently the affected farmers are left high and dry in this instance, while the whole country too will have to face the consequences.

Import ban on agrochemicals will also be detrimental to crop production, to say the least and the importance of agrochemicals will be felt hard, more during pest outbreaks, which come on and off and we will be taken unawares, without stocks of required agrochemicals in such instances. Of course, it will be the duty of the relevant extension staff to ensure that farmers use agrochemicals judiciously, and excessive un-necessary use is avoided, through their programmes including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and those aimed at minimizing the use of weedicides, as implemented since many years ago.

I thought it is nothing but right to highlight these issues under the circumstances, hoping that this will catch the eyes of the decision-makers in this regard, to enable whipping up discussion about the same, so that saner counsel will prevail, to facilitate a feasible resolution, sans an import ban on fertiliser and agrochemicals, even at this late stage.

A. Bedgar Perera

(Retired Director/Agriculture Development,

 Ministry of Agriculture)