The government has taken steps to expedite compensation payments to farmers whose paddy and other crops have been damaged by the prevailing dry weather conditions, the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board said.

The decision was taken on the instructions of Agriculture Minister K.D. Lalkantha, according to a statement issued by the Board.

Crop damage has been reported from several districts, including Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Ampara and Anuradhapura, where water shortages have affected paddy, maize and other cultivations.

Preliminary reports indicate that approximately 6,073 acres of paddy land belonging to around 4,707 farmers have been affected in the five districts.

The reported damage includes 1,334 acres involving 960 farmers in Monaragala, 1,100 acres involving 560 farmers in Polonnaruwa, 435 acres involving 782 farmers in Hambantota, 1,004 acres involving 505 farmers in Ampara, and 2,200 acres involving 1,900 farmers in Anuradhapura.
Officials of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board have begun inspecting the affected farmland, with compensation payments to be released as soon as the assessments are completed.

Under the compensation scheme, farmers affected by damage to six designated crops, including paddy and maize, will be eligible for a maximum payment of Rs. 100,000 per hectare, subject to a maximum cultivated extent of five acres.

The Board said arrangements are currently being made to release compensation to the farmers whose crop losses have already been reported.

Farmers whose crops have been damaged due to the prevailing drought have been urged to notify Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board field officers of their losses without delay.

Alternatively, crop damage can be recorded in the damage notification registers maintained at Agrarian Development Centres.

Farmers seeking further information can contact the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board hotline on 1918.