Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement (LOAM)

Agriculture in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a small and beautiful Island in the Indian Ocean, The Island is 65,606 square kilometers in extent and the population is above 19 million. For over 2,500 years, sustainable traditional agro-ecosystems prevailed, comprised of Paddy agriculture, slash and burn agriculture and traditional home gardens.

These farming systems used the favorable climatic conditions and high biodiversity to their advantage. These traditional agro-ecosystems disintegrated with the advent of colonization followed by the ‘green revolution’. The green revolution technologies have had a negative impact on the environment, are cost inefficient and consume a great quantity of water for cultivation. They also tie the farmer down to systems of credit that have led to massive losses with the vagaries in climate and market forces.

The failure of some of these new technologies led to the emergence of a strong force of dedicated people committed to the cause of organic agriculture. Several non governmental organizations began the promotion of organic agriculture with the focus on improving the socio economic status, increasing the health and food security amongst rural communities, specially small and medium scale farmers. Environmental restoration was the additional benefit from the exercise. Today, after years of practicing organic agriculture several NGO’s have their own training centres, conduct applied research and even offer the facility of farmer extension services.

The interest in organic agriculture led to the formation of the Lanka Organic Agriculture Movement (LOAM) in 1994. LOAM is a professional organization comprised of organic farmers, scientists, professionals, members of the organic corporate sector and interested individuals.

Primary objectives of LOAM

Exports

The growth of organic agriculture industry has been concomitant with the increasing demand for organic products in the international market. The Export Development Board of Sri Lanka  is highly supportive of the development of this new market and many private companies in Sri Lanka now export organically grown tea, fruit, spices, herbs, rice and coconut products from Sri Lanka.

Organic farming used as a conservation tool for watershed management

Many sources of drinking water like rivers and wells have been contaminated by the leaching of agrochemical residues into them. Hence, organic cultivation is now strongly recommended by the National Water Supply and drainage Board of Sri Lanka as the best agricultural practice in sensitive watersheds.