Nearly 8,000 acres of cultivated land have been damaged due to the prevailing dry weather conditions, affecting around 7,000 farmers, according to the Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board.
Speaking to Ada Derana, Board Chairman Pemasiri Jasingarachchi said crop damage has been reported in several districts, including Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Anuradhapura and Puttalam.
He said inspections and assessments of the affected farmlands are currently underway to determine the extent of the damage.
The Chairman stated that compensation for the affected crops is expected to be provided before the end of the current cultivation season.
He further said a sum of Rs. 3 billion has been allocated for crop-damage compensation, adding that steps will be taken to compensate farmers whose cultivations have been affected by the dry weather once the damage assessments are completed.
