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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | A food crisis of the government’s own making -RS Dharmakeerthi

A food crisis of the government’s own making -RS Dharmakeerthi

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published Published on Nov 25, 2021   modified Modified on Nov 26, 2021

-The Hindu

Sri Lanka’s decision to ban imports on chemical fertilizers was not backed by scientific evidence

There is consensus in the scientific community that organic agriculture could reduce crop yield. Quoting three global meta-data analysis, Meemkem and Qaim (2018) pointed out that on average, the yield reduction in organic agricultural systems could be 19-25%, depending on the crop and agro-climatic region. To switch to 100% organic agriculture, a country must have robust scientific evidence and a meticulously planned methodology along with targeted actions. Otherwise, it will plunge into a food crisis, if food security cannot be achieved by other means.

Organic mania

In May, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa ordered a halt to importing chemical fertilizers to turn the island nation’s agriculture sector fully organic. By that time, the Yala cropping season (May to August) had already started and farmers were using the agro-chemicals available in the market. However, no additional agro-chemicals were to be released in the market. The government stated that if there is any yield loss as a consequence of this decision, the affected farmers would be compensated for it. It is unclear how the government was planning to separate yield loss related to lack of agro-chemicals from yield loss due to natural causes, farmers’ attitudes, and so on.

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The Hindu, 25 November, 2021, https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-food-crisis-of-the-governments-own-making/article37670640.ece?homepage=true


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