The government has allocated Rs. 3,000 million to swiftly pay agricultural insurance compensation to farmers whose crops have been damaged by the ongoing dry weather conditions under the El Niño situation.
Reports indicate that paddy and other crops including maize have suffered losses in Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Anuradhapura, and Ampara districts.
Damage assessments show paddy losses of 1,401 acres in Monaragala, 1,259 acres in Polonnaruwa, 783 acres in Hambantota, 1,055 acres in Ampara, and 1,923 acres in Anuradhapura. Altogether, about 8,000 acres belonging to nearly 7,000 farmers have been affected.
Field officers of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board and assistants from the Department of Agrarian Development are currently visiting affected lands to carry out evaluations.
The government’s aim is to release compensation funds before the next cultivation season to provide relief. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation has instructed officials to expedite payments for damaged paddy fields.
For six crops, maize, big onion, potato, soybean, and chili, compensation will be paid at Rs. 100,000 per hectare, with a maximum of five acres per farmer.
Farmers who have not yet reported damages are urged to inform agrarian officers or record losses at Agrarian Development Centers. For further details, the Insurance Board has advised farmers to call the hotline 1918. (Newswire)