Effective use of science and technology

November 9, 2015, 5:39 pm 

By Dr. C.S. Weeraratna

csweera@sltnet.lk

The World Science Day falls on 10th Nov. 2015. This article highlights the importance in effective utilization of Science and Technology to solve the critical issues the country is facing,

During the last two decades, effective use of Science and Technology (S&T) enabled most of the South and South East Asian countries to develop substantially.. However, in Sri Lanka, in spite of a large number of scientific organizations such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Council for Agricultural Research Policy (CARP), etc. which use a considerable amount of scarce financial resources, S&T has been used to a relatively very little extent to the benefit of the people.

The challenges we Sri Lakans face have increased considerably during the last decade. Among the critical issues the people of the country facing are

• Land Slides mainly in Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya districts ,

• Water shortage mainly in the dry zone ,

• Chronic Kidney disease of unknown etiology reported in 9 districts

• High Cost of Production in the plantation and non-plantation (domestic) sector

• High expenditure on fuel

• .Stagnation of the Small and Medium enterprises

• Poverty mainly in the rural and estate sector

• Effective disposal of solid waste etc.

As a result of these issues, thousands of people are affected to a great extent..

A primary objective of use of S&T in a developing country such as Sri Lanka must be to conduct appropriate studies on the critical issues and advice the authorities on relevant action to be taken.. Science and Technology need to be used to utilize locally available resources. Eppawela Apatite (EA) , which was discovered a few decades ago still remains partly underutilized. EA can be used to manufacture phosphate fertilizers.. But, still we grind the rock and use the ground apatite as a P fertilizer while spending millions to import Single Superphosphate and Triple Super Phosphate which can be manufactured from EA.

The research efforts need to be directed more towards those aspects, which have a direct impact on the economy of the country, and to solve those problems, which affect the lives of the people. The causal factor/s of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown Etiology (CKDu) which was reported in 1990s and which has affected nearly 200,000 people in many parts of the country economically and psychologically in a number of districts is yet to be identified.

Conducting research alone will not lead to economic development unless the technologies developed by research are made use or commercialized. Organizations such as the Industrial Development Board, the Board of Investments etc. need to coordinate with the relevant scientific organizations to attract investments on commercialization of proven technologies. Vidatha Centers have been established in many DS Divisions to commercialize S&T. Perhaps the Ministry of Technology and Research may indicate to what extent these Vidatha Centers have been effective in commercializing S&T.

In Sri Lanka, during the last two decades, perhaps a few thousands of research studies, involving billions of rupees worth of scarce resources, have been conducted. Findings of these research projects were presented at numerous conferences, seminars etc. The scientific organizations such as SLAAS, Dept. of Agriculture, various universities etc. hold annual scientific meetings at which the findings of research are presented. It is important that we utilize these research findings to find solutions to the pressing problems of the country. But, there appears to be no effective system to achieve this. Instead, the authorities are concerned in conducting more and more seminars and symposia without any plan to effectively utilize the findings/conclusions. As indicated at the beginning of this article, while our neighboring countries are showing rapid development, we lag behind for lack of systematic use of S&T.

It is also important that the scientists express their candid opinion on numerous issues which tend to have an undesirable effect on the socio-economic development of the country. The issue of Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology is a case in point. Authorities banned the use of glyphosate although there is no scientific evidence that this herbicide has any effect on CKDu. Scientific organizations and scientists, although some wrote to news papers, appear to have not made any serious attempt to make the authorities aware of the actual facts on this issue. A Task Force on CKDu has been established but the general public is not aware of what actions they have taken to control/prevent CKDu. Some argue against use of pesticides. If we do not use these when necessary how are we going to control pest and disease attacks?. It is the responsibility of scientific organizations to make the authorities and the public knowledgeable on the actual facts related to these and other critical issues.

It is also important that the relevant authorities have a dialogue with the appropriate scientist/organizations and get their views/recommendation before taking any action on critical issues. There are ministers who are expected to address these issue and they need to collaborate with the relevant institutions to find practical solutions to these issues. Land slides causing death to a large number of people and destruction to property is evident in many parts of the country. Rainfall of high intensity and erosivity, and inappropriate land management practices are the main factors attributable to land slides causing enormous damage to life and property. It is necessary that preventive action is taken . There is an expert committee on under the Ministry of Environment to advice the Ministry on issues related to soil degradation. But, this ministry has not called a meeting of this committee for two years to discuss and decide what actions need to be taken to control land slides.

One of the main issues in the agriculture sector is high cost of production. This is partly attributed to cost of fertilizers and pesticides on which we spend around Rs. 40 billions annually to import. However, not much attention appears to have been paid on using bio- fertilizers and bio- pesticides which can be manufactured locally and which are less expensive. A number of compounds such as nicotine, pyrethrin and azadirachtin of plant origin have insecticidal properties, and can be effectively used to control some insect pests. These organic compounds are present in locally grown plants. Development of pesticides from those local plants and promoting their use in controlling pests, would reduce costs and also provide employment in the rural areas. But the relevant authorities appear to have not taken action to get the experts involved in implementing appropriate action perhaps due to their limited knowledge on these issues.

It is also important that the ministers get the service of scientists in managing the scientific organizations under them. During the last few weeks Chairmen to important scientific research institutions handling tea, rubber, coconut and sugarcane have been appointed. They all do not have any experience in the areas which they are expected to manage. For example, according to the web site of Coconut Research Institute, an expert on elephants has been appointed as its Chairman. The new Chairman of Tea Board is an expert on tourism and sports. Such appointments surely will not enable the respective institutions to contribute positively to the areas which they are expected to develop.

The Ministry of Technology and Research has an important role to play in initiating appropriate programmes to effectively use science and technology for socio-economic development of the country.