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Paddy cultivation slashed; rice to be imported
Farmers have been asked to slash paddy production by as much as 50 per cent in the coming Yala season due to the prevailing drought, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said yesterday.
“‘We are not in a position to compensate farmers for crop loss if they do not follow our instructions,” the minister said. He said farmers had been told to cut down on paddy and switch to crops which required less water. Among the crops suggested were soya, green peas, cowpea, gram and big onions.
“Until there are clear signs of rains even small-scale paddy farmers should be careful about investing in paddy cultivation. On April 21, we will hold a meeting of District Secretaries to decide on the extent of area to be cultivated and the amount of irrigation water to be provided,” he said.
Mr. Abeywardena said the Government had decided to import rice to meet the shortfall, but a decision on the quantity would be taken at the April 21 meeting.
The move came as rice prices showed a gradual increase.
Meanwhile, the Mahaweli Authority has decided to reduce the supply of water for paddy cultivation by about 50 per cent as the water levels in the tanks have dropped.
Mahaweli Authority Director General Gamini Rajakaruna said that in some of the paddy cultivating areas in the Mahaweli H and G zones — Anuradhapura, Elahera, Tambuettegama and Kandalama — they would be able to provide water only after June.
He said that in the Mahaweli B and C zones — Polonnaruwa, Dehiattakandiya, Ampara (partly) and Girandurukotte — they would be able provide only 50 per cent of the water for paddy cultivation.
Polonnaruwa District Secretary Nimal Abeysinghe said that in the last season 165,000 acres were cultivated, but this season only 35,000 acres could be cultivated due to the drought.
“We may not have sufficient water for alternative crops as the water levels have gone down,” he said.
Anuradhapura District Secretary Mahinda Seneviratne said a meeting would be held on April 22 to decide on the extent of paddy cultivation.