Dr. Haridas of Caritas India implored everyone to join hands in promoting sustainable agriculture, key to human survival on earth.

“Food is considered medicine if cultivated naturally and organically” he said before a host of panel including Sri Lanka’s North Western Province Chief Minister DharmasiriDasanayake on occasion of World Food Day.

The day annually celebrated on October 16 to commemorate the founding of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

“Food grown with the use of agrochemicals and pesticides,” he said “will have its residues which are poisonous and toxic. The excessive use of chemicals and pesticides spoil the soil, water in addition to the high level of chemical residues in food leading our way to hospitals and graveyards.”

Raising concern about contemporary lifestyle, Mr. DharmasiriDassanayaka said that we are eating, drinking and breathing poison.

He shared that the soil absorbs agro chemicals which in turn seep into the water flows and enter into the ecosystem cycle.

“The regrettable trend affecting food security is food wastage and it should be avoided at all costs in order to save food for the future” Mr. Dharmasiri expressed.

In parallel, Caritas Sri Lanka organized exhibition of organic food products at the Puttalam Road in Kurunegala. People shown eagerness to purchase toxic-free organic products from the stalls.

Jointly organized by Caritas Sri Lanka and Government Departments, the event was attended by Mr. Arnold of Caritas Norway, Fr. Shanti Kumar Weliwita, the National Director of Caritas Srilanka, Directors of Diocesan Social Work Wings, Religious leaders, Government officials, community leaders and farmers from different places of the Island Country.