The government has decided to pay Rs. 50,000 per hectare to farmers whose crops were damaged during the Maha season, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.
Mr. Aluthgamage said that the proposal was approved by the Cabinet and the money would be released from next week.
Minister Aluthgamage said that at present a kilo of paddy is being bought for between Rs. 92 and 95 and there is no possibility of any economic loss after the farmers receive the crop damage compensation.
Mr. Aluthgamage admitted that there was a decrease in production due to the inability to provide organic fertilizer on time after the ban on chemical fertilizers.
Mahindananda Aluthgamage while making a special statement to the media at the Ministry of Agriculture said that he had said from the beginning that no injustice would be done to the farmers.
Source - http://www.colombopage.com
