The Cabinet of Ministers has approved compensation of up to Rs. 100,000 per hectare for paddy farmers whose crops were destroyed by recent adverse weather conditions.
Similar compensation will also be provided for maize, chilli, potato, big onion, and soya farmers, under the 2025 crop insurance allocation, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayathissa said.
The Minister also gave a breakdown of plantations and irrigation schemes destroyed or damaged by the extreme weather conditions.
According to Agrarian Development Department data (as of December 2, 2024)
• Paddy fields: 91,300 acres completely destroyed; 86,225 acres partially damaged.
• Irrigation schemes: 173 minor schemes completely destroyed; 1,148 partially damaged.
• Vegetable plantations: Over 750 acres destroyed in Nuwara Eliya district alone.
The Department of Agriculture is working to supply seed paddy for short-term crops and 2 1/2 to 3-month paddy varieties to re-cultivate damaged fields, the Minister said. (Islandnews)
