Disastrous impact on Maha Season if farmers not properly compensated - Agriculture Ministry

The Agriculture Ministry is to submit a Cabinet Paper requesting the Treasury release funds to pay compensation for farmers affected by crop damage. 

A senior Agriculture Ministry official said ongoing assessment of crop damages due to drought have so far found that 54, 000 acres of farmland has been destroyed. The biggest damage is in the Kurunegala District where 16, 000 acres of farmland has been destroyed. The assessment on crop damage is still continuing. 

The official said the Agriculture Ministry will submit the Cabinet Paper requesting the Treasury for details of how much funds it can release urgently to pay compensation for damage that has already been confirmed. The Agriculture Ministry is looking at awarding compensation amounting to Rs. 40, 000 per acre of destroyed farmland. 

While acknowleding that the Treasury too is facing difficulties in sourcing funds, the official warned that failure to promptly award compensation to farmers could force many to refrain from engaging in farming during the upcoming Maha Season. This in turn could have a disastrous impact on the next harvest. 

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is also due to host a high level meeting today (29) attended by different ministries and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector. The meeting will focus on strategies to persuade farmers to prepare for the upcoming Maha Season. This includes providing them with fertiliser on a speedy basis and awarding compensation for crop damage suffered due to the drought, the official added.