His name is H. M. Premawardene and they call him the Danthurai Vedamathaya of Anamaduwa-a green farmer who has nothing to do with the modern day agro chemicals, fertilizers and every other thing that goes with it.
Today this 70-year-old man is busy advising hundreds of fellow farmers, not only in his village but elsewhere as well on the methods of traditional organic farming that were pursued from the time of the country's ancient kings.
"We do not need all these fertilizers and chemicals to harvest a good crop, be it yams, vegetables or even rice. It only takes a little bit of extra time, patience and understanding to achieve that goal, as I have done," he told the Sunday Times.
He said that the manure he uses is a mixture of clay, decayed leaves, animal dung etc., where the cost is near zero.
Agro chemicals and pesticides are imported to the country by big-time mudalalis and in the end the produce is harmful to the consumers as is the case today. The use of such foreign chemicals is also harmful to the environment, he further added.
"I am prepared to extend my knowledge to any one who is willing to listen, anywhere in the country. Assistance by the authorities towards this end will also be very encouraging, after all I do not have many days ahead," the ageing villager concluded.
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