Corn production rate may be decreased this year: Dissanayake

Due to the ban on sale and use of several pesticide ingredients including Glyphosate here, the production rate of corn may be decreased by approximately 20 per cent this year, Minister for Agriculture Duminda Dissanayake predicts. 

The observation was made at a press conference held at the Ministry of Agriculture this afternoon (05).

Minister Dissanayake also said pesticides were banned not to take revenge from any party, but owing to the reports on dramatic increase of kidney disease in the North Central Province due to the use of these pesticide ingredients.

According to a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, the active ingredient known as Glyphosate becomes highly toxic when mixed with ‘hard’ water or heavy metals like arsenic or cadmium that naturally exists within the soil or added as fertilizer.