'Agricultural revolution that does not harm nature, is required' - President

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has stressed the need for an agricultural revolution that will not threaten nature, in an address to a conference ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The President was speaking at a conference on ‘Rediscovering Nitrogen: Solutions and Synergies for Climate Change, Health, Biodiversity and Circular Economy’, a side-event at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held at Glasgow, Scotland.

President Rajapaksa told a gathering that the policy of his government is based on sustainable development while adding Chronic Kidney Disease among Sri Lankan farmer communities, is an issue experienced in the country for many decades.

The President pointed out that the excessive use of chemical fertilizer was the main reason for CKD in the country.

President Rajapaksa told the conference that the decision to minimize chemical fertilizer and encourage organic fertilizer was made on this background.

Though this move was commended widely, it has also come under criticism and protest, pointed out President Rajapaksa.

The President said these protests come from groups that advocate for chemical fertilizer as well as from farmers who have made it a habit to use excessive amounts of chemical fertilizer to increase their harvest.

The President said when considering Sri Lanka's rich agricultural heritage, the present state is completely unfortunate.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is expected to address The World Leaders Summit at COP 26 on Monday (1).