January 20, Colombo (LNW): Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has reported extensive damage to nearly 61,000 acres of paddy fields due to heavy rains and floods in the past four months across the country. In response, the Minister has directed the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board to promptly initiate the assessment of the damages incurred in the affected paddy fields.
Utilizing modern technology, the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board plans to employ drone technology for a comprehensive evaluation of the flood-induced damage, a method previously employed for assessing crop damage caused by drought in the last season.
In addition to addressing the immediate aftermath, Minister Amaraweera anticipates a potential vegetable shortage by June, emphasizing the risk of drought this year. Consequently, he has instructed the Agriculture Department to promptly implement a suitable program to counteract the anticipated shortage and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
