Delay in monsoon rains may hit paddy farmers

By Gamini Warushamana

The Department of Irrigation said that water levels in reservoirs maintained by the department are still at crisis level and therefore, Maha season paddy cultivation cannot begin in many farming areas.

The success of the Maha season will depend on the North-East monsoon rains which is due to break out in the coming weeks and the expected rain in September and October was not received, said Director, Water Management, Ms T. J. Meegasthenna.

She said that only five tanks are filled to capacity and which are small tanks. Water levels at the end of last week were - Ampara 14%, Batticaloa 22%, Vauniya 25%, Trincomalee 33% and Hambantota 39%.

As a result of the low water level in the Senanayake Samudra, paddy cultivation has not fully started in the Ampara district so far. Ampara is one of the main paddy producting areas and every year the first harvest comes from this area.

The Meteorologist in charge of the Department of Meteorology said that the North-East monsoon season has not got activated as yet and the showers being experienced are inter-monsoonal rains.

Rain can be expected in December and according to global model forecast the rainfall will be below average.

However, water levels in some reservoirs of the Mahaweli system are at a satisfactory level and therefore, Maha season paddy cultivation has now started in some areas, officials said.

By last Friday, the water level of the Kotmale reservoir was at 80.8%, Victoria 96.6% and Randenigala 47.2%.

The Residential Project Manager of the Hurulu Ela zone of the Mahaveli Authority, R.B. Sirisena said that paddy farming has now started in the area.

Over 50 percent of farmlands have been prepared for paddy farming using rain water and in Galkiriyagama and Madatugama land is used for vegetable cultivation.

The high market price for paddy in the recent past as a result of short supply and the Government's decision to increase minimum purchasing price of paddy to Rs.40 per kg will result in the increase of cultivation islandwide and thereby paddy production, he said.

Sirisena said that policy makers should carefully calculate the expected harvest and take measures to avert another marketing issue during the harvesting season which will begin by March next year. As a result of crop failure in the past Maha and Yala seasons, today, there is a severe shortage of rice which is filled by imported products. He said that imports should be curtailed on time and steps should be taken to prevent stockpiling of imported rice to manipulate the market during the harvesting season.