Plantations to get glyphosate soon

order under section II of the control of Pesticide Act No. 33 of 1980 and published in gazette extraordinary no. 1937/ 35 of October 23, 2015 and cancelled every license issued in respect of pesticide containing the chemical glyphosate.

Following this although the government promised to publish a fresh gazette notification restricting the use of the chemical only on tea and rubber plantation the circular has been delayed. The parameters of its use also have not been set out.

A special committee consisting of the secretary, Plantation Ministry, secretary, Agriculture Ministry and director, Pesticide Secretariat is to issue quotas to plantations and tea small holding authorities to import the chemical.

The plantations said that they have submitted their requirements.

Kotagala Plantation, Chief Executive Offficer, Mahen Madugala said that with the re-introduction of glyphosate the tea industry will be revived. “We are looking forward to its return,’’ he said.

Although many plantations said that they have resorted to manual weeding, an official in the industry who wished to remain anonymous, said that the ban has not deterred several private plantation companies from using the chemical.

“We see lush tea estates with half withered weeds – signs of glyphosate being used,’’ he said.

Others said alternative weedicides with no labels or brand names are being smuggled in from India and other neighboring countries. “Desperate planters use these to get rid of the weeds, whether it is harmful to health is another question,’’ he said.

With such practices questions are being asked how well the government is geared to controlling the distribution of the chemical to relevant sectors.

It is being argued that there are dangers that unscrupulous traders may siphon out the product to paddy farmers.

The Tea Research Institute (TRI) said that it would be recommending the dosage and quantity that should be used per hectare.

Chairman, Dr. Jayantha Gawarammana said that the TRI advocates integrated tea management, encouraging companies to manually remove weeds when possible. Also the use of glyphosate is recommended only for systemic weeds like rhizome.

“Also we recommend that weedicides be used only two times in a year,’’ he said.

Director, TRI, Dr Sarath Abeysinghe who participates in the committee to regulate the distribution of glyphosate said that tea plantation sector have submitted the amount of chemical required for their plantations and that the TRI will issue coupons to the 22 plantations every six months.

The plantations are required to get prior approval from the TRI before they collect their quota from Ceypetco. He said lifting the ban will ease demand for illegal glyphosate.

Similarly small plantations have to receive approval from the Small Holdings Development Authority (SHDA) before collecting their quota, also from Ceypetco. General Manager, SDHA, D.G Mahipala declined to comment on the arrangements made for the small plantation holders.