The ban on chemical fertilizers introduced by the Sri Lankan government to promote organic farming this year has provoked massive protests, struggles and uproar across the country. But it is best that the President and the Government carry out these plans with massive planning in mind for the health of future generations, rather than looking at our country's position on organic farming in the short term. The political stance in favor of chemical fertilizers, on the other hand, and the business tactics of fertilizer companies that confuse farmers and act selfishly have come to light island-wide today.

Because of this, we are at a time when we need to look at how people around the world are moving toward natural agriculture today.

  • Asia has 6.1 million hectares of agricultural land based on natural agriculture.
  •  The first export of certified naturally produced tea from Zhejiang Province in China in 1990.
  • China has become the third-largest country in the world for subsistence farming with an area of ​​4.4 million hectares.
  • 150 In the Philippines, coconut cultivation takes place on an area of ​​150,000 hectares.
  • Thailand has set aside 208,000 hectares of land for natural agriculture by 2021.
  • Today 4.3 million hectares of natural agricultural lands have been identified in India. It accounts for 30% of global agricultural production.
  • 50 About 50% of the largest garden producers in the world found in India are natural garden produce produced naturally.
  • All lands in the Indian state of Sikkim were converted to subsistence farming in 2003. Prior to this, 10 kg of chemical fertilizers per hectare were used for agriculture in Sikkim. Currently it is doing 100% natural farming.
  • Australia declared the largest natural agricultural land area in 2019. There is about 35.7 million hectares of subsistence farming.
  • Argentina cultivates 3.6 million hectares of land.
  • Natural agriculture accounts for 5% of the total land area in the United States.
  • As of today, 3.5% of the total consumer is shipped to the United States.
  • Natural agricultural products are growing at a rate of 10 - 20% per year in the United States.

That is why organic farming alone is not something that can be caused by the banning of chemical fertilizers alone and they have to be determined based on traditional agricultural technology, farmers' farming methods and agro-ecology. It must be accepted by all that the government is making all efforts for the benefit of the people in this organic farming journey. We also need to understand that we can easily tackle this for the sake of health, away from professional gain and political turmoil.

But people need to make it very clear that this organic farming project is nothing new to our country. Journey to Organic Agriculture Everyone should know about the Green Revolution launched by the then Sri Lankan government in the 1960s with the goal of self-sufficiency in agriculture. During that time, due to the Green Revolution, the production of rice in the country increased. In the years that followed, Sri Lanka became a country that used new technologies with chemicals instead of fertilizers to increase food production. To this end, the Sri Lankan government has spent millions on fertilizer subsidies, pesticide subsidies and low-interest agricultural loans. But despite these, Sri Lanka was able to cope with its chronic food shortages, increasing the use of chemical fertilizers in the country and creating a diseased community.

Following studies conducted in 1962, the government created an attractive trend towards natural agriculture by raising awareness among the people about the dangers of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In the 1970s organic farming was largely promoted by governments in all developing countries, food, conservation and natural agriculture to avoid the adverse environmental effects of traditional agriculture.

Despite the sudden regulation of chemical fertilizers by the Sri Lankan government today, the understanding of natural agriculture has also generated differing opinions among manufacturers. But it is clear that consumers can benefit from these.

Future planning is based on the traditional experience of farmers, awareness and accurate knowledge of ecology to further promote organic farming.

To be used for. This is a long-term action plan. Support for these must be guided by the cooperation of the people, including farmers, government officials and consumers, without political differences.

And organic farming is a holistic farming approach. These are the use of well-maintained soil that maintains a natural ecological balance as the basis for healthy food production. The main structure of organic farming is to regulate the kinetics of organic matter found in the soil, to improve the growing season nutrients and to obtain agricultural products from the biological activity of the soil. It should also be understood that natural agriculture does not simply develop because it does not use chemicals.

Therefore, Sri Lanka has now started laying the foundations for its natural agriculture. The support of the people, the visionary thinking of the concerned authorities and the attitude of the farmers are highly expected during this long journey. Continually our country must move forward in the face of all challenges, following the guidelines of the government with proper planning to make organic farming complete in all crops except chemical fertilizers. It is a process that is not only about today's situation, but also about the health of future generations.