Free seed paddy for flood-hit farmers

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

The Agriculture Ministry will provide seed paddy free to farmers in flood-hit areas for the forthcoming Yala season as directed by Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

A survey is under way to identify flood-hit paddy fields said Agriculture Secretary K.E. Karunatileka.

He said that over 100,000 hectares of paddy fields have been damaged by the floods and this has resulted in a loss of over 20 percent of the Maha season harvest. Over 683,000 hectares of paddy had been cultivated for the Maha season including 41,000 hectares in the Northern province.

The country's rice requirements will not be affected by the present crisis, since a bumper harvest is expected from the secured paddy lands. The Government will, however, maintain its stocks with the Paddy Marketing Board.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Agrarian Services and Wildlife said that over 350 tanks in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Batticaloa, Ampara and the Trincomalee districts had been damaged by the floods. The damaged tanks will be repaired as early as possible, he said.