The Agricultural and Farmers Insurance Board has announced that Rs. 12,341.5 million has been disbursed to 202,025 farmers affected by last year’s Cyclone Ditwah.

According to the Board, the Department of Agrarian Development has already paid Rs. 8,888.5 million to 116,278 farmers for 148,000 acres of paddy fields that suffered total damage.

In addition, Rs. 3,453 million has been paid to 85,747 farmers cultivating maize, vegetables, and other field crops across Mahaweli areas, provinces, and inter‑provincial regions through the Department of Agriculture.

Under the scheme, compensation rates were set at Rs. 150,000 per hectare for paddy cultivation and Rs. 200,000 per hectare for maize, vegetables, and other field crops. (Newswire)

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The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, the Government of Australia, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have launched a AUD 2 million recovery initiative to restore and transform vegetable production systems in the cyclone-affected districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla.

Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka in November 2025, caused widespread devastation across the country, severely disrupting agricultural production systems and livelihoods. The highland districts of Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, key suppliers of vegetables such as beans, carrots, leeks, cabbage, tomato and potato, were among the hardest hit, with thousands of smallholder farmers losing crops, seed stocks, and productive assets.

This 12-month initiative aims to restore and strengthen climate-resilient vegetable production systems, with a strong focus on empowering women farmers and supporting persons with disabilities. 

The project will directly benefit more than 2,400 smallholder farmers through improved seed and seedling production systems, small machinery, training, and market linkages, while indirectly supporting thousands more. 

According to the FAO, the agreement on the AUD 2 million recovery initiative was formalized through the signing of the grant agreement by Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Matthew Duckworth, and FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan, alongside the signing of the project document by Secretary of Agriculture, D. P. Wickramasinghe and Sharan. 

The ceremony took place in the presence of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, K. D. Lal Kantha, at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation.

“This initiative is an important step not only in restoring what was lost, but in building a more resilient and self-reliant agricultural sector,” said Minister Lal Kantha. “By strengthening local seed systems and supporting smallholder farmers, particularly women and vulnerable groups, we are investing in the long-term sustainability of Sri Lanka’s food systems.”

“Australia stands alongside Sri Lanka in its ongoing recovery from Cyclone Ditwah,” said High Commissioner Duckworth. “Australia is a steadfast partner in the agriculture sector with its importance for food security, rural development and climate resilience. By focusing on climate-smart practices, farmer-led solutions and inclusive economic opportunities, this project will deliver meaningful and lasting benefits to affected communities.”

Building back better with climate resilience and inclusion

The project will prioritize the restoration of farmer-led seed systems for beans and potatoes, support the re-establishment of both open-field and protected cultivation systems, and women-led seedling supply nurseries while empowering all farmers with Climate-Smart Good Agricultural Practices (CSGAP) with small-scale machinery and input support. 

A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of six accessible and inclusive nurseries in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla. These nurseries will serve as sustainable agri-based enterprises, producing high-quality vegetable seedlings while creating new income opportunities and strengthening local input supply chains.

By combining recovery support with long-term resilience measures, the project will help stabilize vegetable production, improve household food security and nutrition, and reduce reliance on imported seeds.

“This project represents an opportunity to build back better,” said Mr. Sharan. “Through climate-smart agriculture, strengthened seed systems and inclusive agri-entrepreneurship, we are supporting communities to recover while enhancing their resilience to future shocks.”

The project is designed as both a recovery and climate adaptation intervention. It addresses structural vulnerabilities in seed supply, production systems, and market linkages, while enhancing the capacity of farmers and extension services to respond to future climate risks.

The initiative aligns with national priorities on food security, climate resilience, and inclusive rural development, and will be implemented in close collaboration with national partners, including the Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Department of Agriculture. (Newswire)

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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. (Newswire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has distributed freehold deeds to 408 individuals in Jaffna for cultivation purposes. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the land distribution was carried out as part of the Urumaya National Program which aims to distribute 2 million freehold deeds to the deserving public.

As part of the land distribution today, the President released 234 acres of land which were previously held by the Jaffna Security Forces Headquarters.

The lands were distributed to farmers for cultivation purposes in 5 Grama Niladhari Divisions in Jaffna.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe symbolically presented deeds, benefiting a total of 408 individuals at a ceremony held at Oddakapulam in Jaffna. (NewsWire)

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The Climate Promise project, funded by the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB), marked the ceremonial handing over of Renewable Energy Technologies to Farmer Organizations in the Northwestern Province of Sri Lanka on Thursday (Feb 15).

According to UNDP Sri Lanka, the initiative, named ‘Enhancing Food and Energy Security through the Promotion of Green Technologies & Renewable Energy for Wider Uptake among Vulnerable Smallholder Farmers in Sri Lanka,’ focuses on providing immediate crisis relief support to marginalized farmer demographics in the dry-zone farmland areas of the country.

The event was attended by Governor – North Western Province, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana, Chief Secretary – North Western Province, Mr Ranjith Ariyarathne, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki, and Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, Ms Azusa Kubota.

Speaking at the event, Chief Secretary – North Western Province Ranjith Ariyarathne noted, “As an island with solid ecological balance and rich bio-diversity, Sri Lanka has much potential in green energy which comes with many competitive advantages, compared to traditional energy sources. Our appreciation goes out to the Government of Japan for its assistance through the JSB Climate Promise Project to fulfil the needs of the rural populations in the North Western Province, employing modern technology and social mobilization.”

The key highlights of the official handing-over event included the transfer of solar-powered cool rooms, milk can coolers, solar PV systems for milk chilling centres and farmer training centres, backpack sprayers, large & small-scale solar-powered water pumps, and moth-repellent kits to 49 farmer organizations benefitting around 20,000 farmers. These cutting-edge technologies aim to revolutionize farming practices, ensuring sustainability and promoting eco-friendly alternatives. The provision of solar-powered equipment is specifically designed to empower smallholder farmers, with a focus on women and youth, enabling them to secure a sustainable income.

Recognizing the Government of Japan’s commitment to bolstering such initiatives in Sri Lanka, Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Mizukoshi Hideaki stated, “I believe that this support will help farmers deepen their understanding of the importance of sustainable agriculture in consideration of the global environment, and will also provide an opportunity for them to put green farming into practice, which is an important milestone in the promotion of renewable energy utilization in the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka.”

As part of the ceremony, a 5-ton solar-powered cool room was inaugurated, emphasizing the commitment to enhancing food and energy security in the region. The facility will serve as a vital resource for farmers to store and preserve their produce efficiently. The event also featured an insightful inspection of the cool room’s operations, accompanied by interactive informal chats and discussions with the farmers.

Emphasizing the importance of incorporating Renewable Energy Technologies with sustainable income generation, Governor – North Western Province,  Lakshman Yapa Abeywardhana noted, “It is an immense pleasure to witness that, the Government of Japan as a nation which has had a close relationship with Sri Lanka for centuries, has come forward to uplift the green energy sector and promote smart climate methodologies within the North Western Province. These initiatives should be treated as needs of the hour in the country’s sustainable development strategy. Having considered the success of the projects of this nature, I believe that they should be initialized and implemented in other provinces, as key elements of the country’s national agenda.”

Commenting on UNDP’s role, Resident Representative, UNDP in Sri Lanka, Ms Azusa Kubota highlighted, “In light of the challenges posed by escalating fuel costs and energy shortages, Sri Lanka’s farming community, which consists of 27% of our labour force and impacts over 2.2 million individuals, faces considerable strain. However, through UNDP’s Climate Promise project funded by Japan, we’re pioneering solutions. By introducing modern, green technologies to smallholder farmers in the dry-zone farmlands, we’re not merely offering assistance; we’re providing them with a pathway to sustainable income generation—a vital step towards resilience and prosperity in the face of adversity.”

The JSB Climate Promise project in Sri Lanka is a collaborative effort aimed at introducing modern, green technologies to address the immediate challenges faced by smallholder farmers. By fostering the adoption of Renewable Energy Technologies, the project seeks to create a positive impact on the agricultural landscape, ultimately contributing to the economic empowerment of vulnerable communities. The JSB Climate Promise project in Sri Lanka is a part of Japan’s $23.6 million contribution that aims to assist 16 countries across Asia-Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Africa, and Arab State regions. (NewsWire)

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Israel and Sri Lanka have signed an agreement, which will allow Israel to immediately hire 10,000 Sri Lankan farm workers, according to Globes, Israel business news.

Accordingly, the agreement has been signed by Israel’s Minister of Interior Moshe Arbel and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Israel Nimal Bandaranaike.

The first Sri Lankan agricultural workers within the framework of this agreement should arrive in the coming weeks. 

There are already 4,500 workers from Sri Lanka employed in Israel, most of them working in the homecare sector.

The new agreement follows cabinet approval last week allowing Israeli companies to bring 5,000 workers to the country for the agricultural sector.

Israel’s agricultural sector has been hit hard by the war. Since October 7, some 8,000 foreign agricultural workers have fled Israel out of 30,000 foreign workers in the farming sector. 

During the attack on October 7, Hamas militants dozens of foreign workers were killed, while several dozen were taken hostage in Gaza.

At the same time, some 20,000 Palestinian agricultural workers have been banned from entering the country. (NewsWire)

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The distribution of air rifles to farmers to ward off crop-destroying animals commenced on Sunday (Oct 22).

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera commenced the distribution programme in Angunukolapellessa last morning.

A total of 268 air rifles were distributed to farmers in Angunukolapellessa under the programme. 

Speaking to reporters, Minister Amaraweera said that farmers have made repeated requests for firearms to ward off crop-destroying animals due to the large-scale crop destructions in the recent past.

Stating that monkeys are the key crop destroyers, the minister said measures taken to export Sri Lankan monkeys to China had been suspended due to legal action by environmental organizations. 

“Even though several other countries have also shown interest in receiving Sri Lankan monkeys, the proposal has been suspended in the initial stages due to a court order,” he said. 

Minister Amaraweera pointed out that, however, the destruction of cultivated crops by wild animals has created a serious crisis situation as there is a risk of a future food crisis.

He further said that therefore, it is required to provide not only air rifles but other firearms as well to farmers for this purpose.

“The proposals presented by these environmental organizations to prevent crop damage caused by wild animals including wild animals are not practical at all. the suggestions by these environmental organizations include measures such as saris being hung around the plantations, plates being tied to the coconut trees, and half an acre of cultivated farms being set aside for wild animals,” the minister revealed.

“Therefore, in an effort to prevent crop damage, steps were taken to distribute air rifles subject to 50% contribution as per the request of the farmers and the government had allocated financial allocations for this purpose this year,” he added. (NewsWire)

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The government has permitted farmers to kill monkeys that are found to be destroying crops, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said on Friday (16).

During a meeting with potato farmers, the minister was informed of monkeys destroying crops making it impossible to grow potatoes in the area.

Responding, the minister revealed that six crop-ravaging animals, peacocks, monkeys, toque macaques (“rilava”), grizzled giant squirrels (“dadu lena”), porcupines, and wild boars, were recently removed from the list of protected animals in Sri Lanka. 

Minister Amaraweera said, therefore, the farmers are at liberty to use any measures to tackle the menace. 

He further stated that after conducting excessive research, including studies conducted overseas, it has been proven that there are no other ways to resolve the issue. (NewsWire)

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