The Cabinet of Ministers has approved compensation of Rs. 100,000 per hectare for farmers cultivating paddy, corn, potato, big onion, soybean, and chili whose crops were damaged by recent floods.
Announcing the decision, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, highlighted the devastating impact of adverse weather conditions in recent days. Flooding across many districts caused severe damage to homes, highways, cultivated lands, and irrigation systems, as well as breaching numerous lakes and embankments, creating significant hardships for the public.
According to the Department of Agrarian Development, as of December 2, 2024, approximately 91,300 acres of paddy fields have been completely destroyed, while an additional 86,225 acres have been partially affected. In addition, 173 minor irrigation schemes have been fully destroyed, with 1,148 sustaining partial damage. The Nuwara Eliya district alone reported the destruction of around 750 acres of vegetable crops.
To aid recovery efforts, the Department of Agriculture plans to distribute seed paddy for re-cultivating 2½ to 3-month paddy varieties or other suitable short-term crops in the affected fields.
Additionally, under the existing crop insurance scheme, farmers will receive Rs. 40,000 per acre for damaged paddy fields, up to a maximum of 2 hectares (5 acres). Compensation of Rs. 40,000 per acre will also be provided for maize, potatoes, chilies, big onion, and soybeans, up to a maximum of 1 hectare (2.5 acres). Funding for this initiative will be allocated from the 2025 budget to the Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board.
The government’s swift action aims to support farmers in rebuilding their livelihoods and ensuring agricultural productivity in the wake of the disaster.
