Towards a more profitable and sustainable agriculture

One of the key happenings in human history, is the so-called “Industrial Revolution,” that originated about two centuries ago, (principally in Europe, North America and Japan), as the focal points. These are now broadly defined as “Developed Countries.” They distinguish themselves as having higher per capita incomes, and thereby offering their citizens better living conditions than do the “Developing” or “Less developed” ones.

It is tempting yet erroneous, to believe that what prevailed two centuries ago, can be transposed today to other countries including Sri Lanka, presently classified among the “Developing Countries.”

Typically, the industrial era manifested as a movement away from farming and towards machinery driven enterprises. The unspoken corollary is that what worked for them then, should do for us now.

This is a presumption that is unlikely to happen. Although a small tropical country within the Monsoon belt, we are fortunate in being spared weather-related atmospheric perturbations such as hurricanes, cyclones and tsunamis, that assail other similar countries and locations.

Overall, we are fortunately blessed with largely favourable climatic conditions and reasonably fertile soils, to ably support a sustainable, diversified and a seemingly unique mosaic of farming, livestock and forestry. This is worthy of protection.

By virtue of our geography, climate, tradition and aptitude, we are well positioned to be a dominant base for a vibrant Agrarian Economy.

A composite of the sectors deriving from plants and animals, best suits our natural strengths. This leads us logically to seek economic advancement through this sector, with a blend of farming, livestock and forestry, to best support environmental stability as our long-term goal.

Two factors that are poised to impact on Worldwide agriculture, are “global warming” and a looming water crisis. These will affect different regions with differing severity. This has aroused much international concern. Sri Lanka would do well to prepare itself for this eventuality.

In the particular context of Sri Lanka, the priority considerations in the agricultural sector, calling for close and timely attention are as follows:

(i) Correcting weaknesses in the Extension Services which are primarily blamed for under- performance. All officers concerned, would benefit from periodic exposure to training that is designed for upgrading knowledge and sharpening requisite skills.

(ii) The Sri Lankan Agricultural Sector divides into two components, –namely, the Export and Local Crop sectors. Animal farming is set apart, and historically has received less attention. However, the recently expanding poultry industry, has resulted in greater attention to livestock expansion.

(iii) In Ceylon’s colonial history, it was the British, who exercised their sovereignty over the whole island, succeeding the Portuguese and Dutch, who were confined to the coastal regions. Cinnamon was the first crop that attracted the colonizers, this was followed sequentially by Cinchona (Pyrethrum, on a small scale) and Coffee. In the 1840’s, the invasion by the Coffee Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) laid waste the Coffee plantations. Tea took over and rapidly expanded, mainly by encroaching into Highland Forest areas. Little attention was given to environmental and social consequences. Meantime, Rubber plantations dominated in the wetter Lowlands. A while later, attention was directed towards coconut.

Research Institutes – TRI, RRI and CRI were established to cater to the needs of the fast-developing Plantation Crops.

The introduction of Plantation Crops had far-reaching and lasting Economic, Political, Social, Environmental and Cultural consequences. The recently established Minor Export Crops, mainly serviced the Spice Crops Cinnamon, pepper, Nutmeg and Cardamom. Also, Cocoa and Coffee. Sugar, Cashew and Palmyra are crops that are developing their own support structures.

All others are catered for by the Department of Agriculture, whose main efforts are focused on the Paddy sector. This is a sector that had received scant attention from the colonial British, who had an understandable preference for importation of rice from colonial Burma and Thailand.

(v) This cleavage (into export and local sectors), while having several operational advantages, also created problems. These include social and citizenship complexities, arising from the large importation of labour from South India, to develop the rapidly increasing new plantation areas. The early tea estates were in the Central Hills, and also resulted in widespread expropriation of private and peasant- owned lands. This is still a silent concern.

(v) Since it is impossible to balance the requirements and production of agricultural produce, scarcities and gluts are not uncommon. Scarcities are met by imports, while surpluses largely result in wastage. This can be as high as 35% in the case of perishable vegetables and fruits. To deal with such surpluses, obvious remedies include providing better storage facilities with protection from insects, fungi, rodents and other marauders. Such storage could suit Paddy, maize, pulses, peanuts and some fruits.

In the case of vegetables, much fruit and other perishable produce,

post-harvest handling and transport are key needs.

Where appropriate, preservation by simply drying (by Sun, ovens or other equipment), freezing, canning, bottling and packaging are means of coping with surpluses and in most cases, also as a means of value addition.

These are the considerations paramount in developing a profitable and sustainable Agriculture – which will continue to play a key role in the National Economy.

Dr. Upatissa Pethiyagoda