Over 11,750 acres of paddy fields, which were about to be harvested in the last Yala Season, have been destroyed by floods caused by heavy rains that have been experiencing for almost one-and-a-half months.

Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had informed the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board to gather information about the damaged fields due to the long and severe drought that prevailed in last Yala Season.

Accordingly, 64,088 acres of paddy fields have been damaged due to drought and 11,460 farmers have been affected due to crop damage due to rain.

Meanwhile, the Minister asked Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board Chairman W. M. M. B. Weerasekara to take steps to provide compensation for crop damage caused by drought.

Minister Amaraweera also instructed that these compensations should be given within this year itself and if the money from the Government is delayed, the compensation for crop damage should be made with the funds of the board.

The Minister also mentioned that this step should be taken considering the fact that it is difficult for the farmers who suffered crop damage due to drought to carry out cultivation activities, especially in the high season.

Source - https://www.dailynews.lk