OUR AREA PROBLEM

 The Killer That Destroys Biodiversity

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I live in the Udugama area in the Galle District. One of the most pressing issues facing the people living in our area is the widespread cultivation of Katupol in the area. Katupol is one of the leading cash crops in the world and is also a plant that produces palm oil. This plant belongs to the genus Palmyra and was first found in the African region. Katupol cultivation was started in the country around 1978. Cultivation began to expand in the 90s. Although this cultivation provides economic benefits compared to Tea, Rubber and Coconut cultivations, environmental organizations have strongly objected to it due to the environmental damage it causes. Accordingly, the distribution of Katupol cultivation in the island was limited.

Katupol is not an endemic plant and I think it is a destructive plant introduced to our country by another country. Although Katupol is a tropical plant, there are many problems in using Katupol as a commercial crop. Katupol cultivating has been carried out by clearing most of the cultivated lands in the wet zone of Sri Lanka. We see that situation even today. The people of the Udugama Nakiyadeniya area in Galle are facing severe difficulties due to the steps taken by an estate company to expand Katupol cultivation to about 2000 acers. In addition, there was a strong protest in the Suduwelipotha area regarding the cultivation of Katupol. 😕😕😕😕

At the Galle District coordinating committee meeting, permission was granted to cultivate Katupol in the waste lands. But these fertile lands, which used to be cultivated for tea and rubber, have now become barren. That is because about 700 acers of land has been cleared by now. 😖😖😖The international Greenpeace Organization describes poppy cultivation as a symbol of cruelty. We know that Katupol cultivation has been done by removing the existing rubber estates. Is there any economic or environmental benefit from removing the existing crops and planting Katupol?  Let’s find out now.

Due to the widening of the gap between the two Katupol plants and the fact that the Katupol cultivation area is not under cultivation, the surface soil layers are completely washed away during the rainy season, resulting in soil erosion, destruction of groundwater components and drying up of water sources.😓😓😓😓

Especially during the rainy season, rivers and streams are flooded, but during the dry season, they dry up. Not only that. Katupol absorbs three times as much water as the rubber plant. Even in times of drought this size will not change. Also, the Katupol plant absorbs more than ten times as much manure as the rubber plant. This means that if Katupol is cultivated for a few years, the natural quality of the soil will be severely affected. To make it clearer, 👇👇👇😖

ELEMENTS	RUBBER	KATUPOL
N – Nitrogen	92g	735g
P – Phosphorus	24g	210g
K – Potassium	100g	1750g
Mg Magnesium	15g	218g

Due to this the infertility or the soil is severe. Also, due to the clearing of forest areas and the expansion of Katupol cultivation, wildlife has been decimated. Especially with the arrival of animal such as pigs, peacocks, monkeys and frogs, it has become impossible to grow crops.  Dogs in the area also lose their fur and die quickly due to eating Katupol. Also, we do not see the crows and mines that used to be seen all over the area. Those birds are also disturbed. The bee population has also decreased. Also, the incidence of venomous snakes has increased in the vicinity of Katupol plantations. 

The most important thing is that the chemicals used for Katupol have leaked into the canals, destroying the fish and polluting the water. Also, there are various products that use, “Oil Palm” and we can see the effect of those products from the dogs themselves. Another important point is that due to the clearing of tea and rubber plantations and the cultivation of Katupol, the people who used to depend on previous cultivations have lost their jobs due to this cultivation. Therefore, such a powerful destructive plant should not be allowed to grow in Sri Lanka. Otherwise, our sensitive areas, biodiversity water resources and all aspects of the environment will soon be destroyed.

What are the remedies that can be taken to prevent this damage? Forest areas should not be used especially for Katupol cultivation. Instead of Katupol, other environmentally friendly and economically important crops can be grown. Due to this a large number of people get employment opportunities. Also, care should be taken not be extend the cultivation further from here until the crop is removed from the cultivated land for some time. Also, if thorns are founded in the natural.😕😕 

environment and outside the cultivated land, it should be removed immediately with the participation of the people.  We need to taken immediate action to stop them from spreading, flowering and fruiting.👍👍👍

Accordingly, do we give our lands to multinational companies? We all have to think about whether the temporary financial gain will bring about a catastrophe that will have a long–term effect.

…. THANK YOU….

 

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