Chemicals

This demonstation project will take place in the Welimada Pradeshiya Sabha area where mono-crop cultivation and limited availability of arable land has led to the indiscriminate use of pesticides, fungicides and insecticides by farmers for pest control. Some of these pesticides can be categorized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and are harmful to both human health and ecosystems. Therefore there is a need to make farmers and other community members in Welimada aware of the impacts of POPs. People to People Volunteers (PPV) intends to focus on this problem by making the community aware of what POPs are, how they can be harmful and what can be done to reduce their usage. PPV also plans on creating a waste management programme, as the dumping and burning of waste can create POPs, which may eventually contaminate the water used by villagers. PPV will provide compost bins, leaflets about POPs, eco-friendly bags and hand-made paper products as ways to minimize POPs. PPV plans to also create an inventory of PCBs in the area. Through PPV s work to improve knowledge of POP s and eco-friendly alternatives, it is expected that farmers and other community members will abstain from using POPs for their farming activities. Additionally, the project on the waste management program will continue this work to eradicate POPs in the area, leading to a healthier community.

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