Farmers affected by the prevailing dry weather conditions are to receive agricultural insurance compensation promptly, according to the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board.
Crop damage, including to paddy and maize, has been reported in several districts, including Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Ampara and Anuradhapura, due to water shortages caused by the drought conditions.
According to the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, paddy cultivation damage has been reported in Monaragala, where 960 farmers have been affected across 1,334 acres; Polonnaruwa, where 560 farmers have been affected across 1,100 acres; Hambantota, where 782 farmers have been affected across 435 acres; Ampara, where 505 farmers have been affected across 1,004 acres; and Anuradhapura, where 1,900 farmers have been affected across 2,200 acres.
The government will provide compensation of up to Rs. 100,000 per hectare for six crops, including paddy and maize, with compensation payable for a maximum of five acres.
Accordingly, steps are being taken to promptly release compensation to nearly 4,707 farmers affected across approximately 6,073 acres of paddy fields in the districts where damage has been reported so far.
Farmers whose paddy, maize or other crops have been damaged due to water shortages are advised to report the damage to field officers of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board as soon as possible.
Alternatively, farmers can record the crop damage in the damage notification registers maintained at Agrarian Development Centres.
Further information can be obtained by calling the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board’s short hotline on 1918.
Officials of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board in the affected districts have already begun visiting damaged paddy fields to assess the losses.
Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Minister K.D. Lalkantha has also instructed officials to expedite compensation payments for paddy fields affected by the prevailing conditions and provide relief to farmers for their crop losses. (Newswire)