Soil erosion and the need for soil conservation
 

by Clinton Rodrigo

The subject of this narration is one of prime importance pertaining to soils in this country. This is especially so as regards soils on which agricultural plantation crops like tea, rubber and coconut grows.

It should be specially emphasised that the soils, essentially in the high grown and mid grown elevations which constitute about 60% of the tea lands in Sri Lanka being the most vulnerable. This is consequent to the sloping land terrain on which this major plantation crop grows.

The land in the lower elevation range has generally gently undulating or flat terrain of land - where erosion of its valuable top soil is minimal in consequence. However still yet soil conservation measures needs to be adopted as the valuable top soil on which any agricultural crop grows, need to be preserved to the maximum by adopting at least the basic measures of soil conservation.

These basic methods to my way of thinking is contour terrace bunds, contour drains where the distance apart from one to the other is dependant on the lie or on the slope of the land.

It is regretted that the subject of this article is afforded hardly any interest by Governmental sources whether it is due to the ignorance of the importance or due to not appreciating the agricultural viability in the ultimate economic scenario of this country. Hence may I earnestly and insistently make an approach to even Governments in the future to lay the needed importance to the all important aspect of soil 'conservation'.

It is this important as on it lies the future agricultural well-being of this country, this is more so as Sri Lanka, our motherland is a country with an agricultural oriented economy. I must emphatically state that the Government to come whoever it may be considers it imperative to formulate a special ministry all by itself and should be delegated to an agricultural competent and conversant individual elected to Parliament as a member.

I urge the authorities to take this suggestion very seriously as it no doubt needs great importance. If this country is to grow and develop as one principally dependant for its economic well-being on agriculture.

I make this observation with great importance and equally great seriousness, since as of now there is nothing as such being done towards checking of soil erosion, and the conservation of the soil. I made special mention of the tea plantations on the higher elevations where the sloping land terrain accelerates the aspect of soil erosion during especially periods of monsoon rains.

This scenario is aggravated due to no attention whatsoever to the all important aspect of preservation of the soil in site. I must say that the country's efforts at increasing production obviously is negated due to inadequate or hardly any measures to check soil erosion.

Hence large contour terraces or bunds, contour drains of the 'Lock & Spill' system on a gradual slope to the main drain (Neththi Kanu) would be commenced. I must say that even the main drains should be built up with rock stone at the bottom and sides - and be on the 'reverse slope' system. If these measures are not adopted as advised and advocated by competent agriculturalists rather than an increasing yield pattern which we are aiming at it will result in a decreasing yield pattern in the alternative.

By this type of blatant and obvious neglect are we driving our motherland to eventuate in a barren desert with not topsoil whatsoever.

A sincere effort I recall being made in the past on this important exercise of soil conservation - when sincere and conscious efforts were made by those then national minded scientists and agriculturalists. But they may have been naturally frustrated by the non committed and non participatory attitude of the Governments, not realising the harm and damage its doing to the country. It is ultimately neglect on this score that spells doom to the agricultural economy and well-being of Sri Lanka.

I recall a great agriculturalist who is now very elderly who even went to the extent of propagating the message of 'SALT' (Sloping Agricultural Land Terrain) system very successfully practised with great success in other agricultural oriented South East Asian countries where contour planting of grasses, legumes, drains, and terraces, prevented soil erosion to a noticeable degree of sloping Hilly agricultural cultivation.

He even went to the extent of giving 'talks' to us then young agriculturists - myself as a Chairman of a Government Owned Plantation board. He was a conversant great agriculturist who even now I am told by his practice of correct agricultural precepts has achieved the highest yields on his own coconut plantation at between 6,000-10,000 nuts, per acre per year.

It is a great pity that personnel of this type are now not seen or heard and our wealth of top soil in consequence is fast eroding into the streams, rivers and ultimately ends up uselessly as silt deposits in the sea. What a pity!

I advocate that legislation is imposed by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that 5% of the funds approved or allocated for any future agricultural project, especially in elevations higher than 500 ft above sea level.

This vote should be for the all important aspect of checking soil erosion and conservation of soil on that envisaged project. I must of course say that it is the obligation of the soil conservation Ministry to monitor this requirement by exerting vigilance and dissemination of the relevant agricultural advice to the prospective entrepreneurs.

Unless and until this is done the all important agricultural well-being of Sri Lanka will be going from the 'Frying pan to the fire'.

(The writer is retired Regional Chairman-in-Charge of Plantation in Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Hatton and Avissawella comprising Tea, Rubber and Coconut Plantations in the majority.)