In the aftermath of heavy rains persisting for nearly one-and-a-half months, more than 11,750 acres of paddy fields, ready to be harvested in the last Yala Season, have been obliterated by destructive floods.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, overseeing the Agriculture and Plantation Industry, has directed the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board to compile information on the extensive damage incurred by the fields during the prolonged and severe drought of the previous Yala Season.
The assessment reveals a staggering 64,088 acres of paddy fields damaged due to drought, affecting 11,460 farmers who have suffered losses from crop damage caused by the subsequent heavy rains.
Responding to the crisis, Minister Amaraweera has instructed the Chairman of the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board, W. M. M. B. Weerasekara, to expedite the process of providing compensation for crop damage attributed to the drought. The Minister emphasized the urgency of disbursing these compensations within the current year. In the event of delays in government funds, Minister Amaraweera urged the board to utilize its resources to ensure timely relief for the affected farmers.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by farmers in resuming cultivation activities, particularly in the high season, the Minister underscored the importance of swift and comprehensive support to mitigate the impact of crop damage caused by the drought.
