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From my understanding a large factor was the haphazard banning of imported fertilizer by the Sri Lankan Green party and the resulting drop in crop/produce yield
by ThePhysicist 4y ago
From my understanding a large factor was the haphazard banning of imported fertilizer by the Sri Lankan Green party and the resulting drop in crop/produce yields (I think more than 50 % overall). Turns out that modern agriculture cannot just be dialed back to organic farming without significant losses in productivity. In my opinion a textbook example where ideology-driven politics clashes with the hard facts of modern engineering.
- xupybd 4y agoYeah we trash the soil with the way we use fertilizer. There is much we can do to be smarter about it. Often by using less but more expensive fertilizers. This is hard to do as you need to address the specific soil conditions. See https://www.bioagrinomics.com/visual-soil-assessment https://www.bioagrinomics.com/visual-soil-assessment Additionally, increasing organic material can really help. Doing these things is however frowned upon by many who push the green agenda. Organic certification is difficult and not affordable for all. If there were a more pragmatic middle ground we could improve crop yields, drought tolerance and help the environment. Sadly not many push for the middle ground. It's all or nothing.
- ThePhysicist 4y agoIt's definitely possible, but I don't think you can do it in the span of several years.
- bakuninsbart 4y agoThis was at least partially a result of lack of currency reserve. Sri Lanka is reliant on those to import fertilizer and pesticides, and the idea of 'organic' farming was a convenient way to phrase 'we can't afford to buy on the international markets anymore'.
- collyw 4y agocoming to the Netherlands next
- unmole 4y agoYour understanding is incomplete. The ban on fertilizer imports itself was triggered by dwindling forex reserves. While it did make things worse, it's not the root cause or even the major factor.