The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has requested farmers to report crop damage caused by recent heavy rains before the end of today. Chairman Premasiri Jasinghe Arachchi confirmed that officials are already assessing the impact on cultivation lands.
The government has allocated Rs. 1 billion for crop damage compensation, offering Rs. 100,000 per hectare for fully damaged cultivation lands. However, vegetables are excluded from this scheme.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne announced plans to introduce an insurance system for vegetable cultivations, ensuring compensation for farmers. He also stated that the Agricultural Damage Compensation Circular would be revised to address gaps in the current framework.
The heavy rains have particularly affected upcountry vegetable cultivations, leading to a spike in market prices, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced measures to support affected farmers.
