Cabinet Spokesman and Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that the estimated crop damage caused so far by the prevailing extreme dry weather conditions is nearly 8,000 acres of farmland belonging to around 7,000 farmers.

Speaking at the weekly Cabinet media briefing today (01), Minister Jayatissa said that the government has allocated Rs. 3,000 million as the first phase of an expedited programme to provide compensation to farmers affected by the crop damage.

Accordingly, compensation will be provided for crops including paddy, maize, big onions, potatoes, soya and chillies, he said.

The Minister said compensation of Rs. 100,000 per hectare will be paid, subject to a maximum of five acres per farmer.

“Accordingly, compensation of Rs. 100,000 per hectare will be provided to farmers for crops including paddy, maize, big onions, potatoes, soya and chillies, subject to a maximum extent of five acres per farmer.”

Anuradhapura District has recorded the highest extent of crop damage so far, with 1,923 acres affected. This is followed by Monaragala with 1,421 acres, Polonnaruwa with 1,259 acres, Ampara with 1,055 acres and Hambantota with 783 acres.

He said the government has already identified the affected agricultural lands and estimated that nearly 8,000 acres belonging to approximately 7,000 farmers in the affected districts have suffered crop damage.

The Minister urged farmers cultivating the relevant crops who have suffered losses to report the damage to the Agricultural Research and Production Assistant at the nearest Department of Agrarian Development office, or to Development or Field Officers of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB).