Weather changes bring risk of food shortage: Minister

• About 70,000 acres of paddy has been destroyed

By Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama  

Sri Lanka faces the risk of food shortages due to the impact of sudden weather changes in the country, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.  

He made this warning during a discussion at the Ministry on the implementation of projects to increase the production of food crops.  “About 70,000 acres of paddy have been destroyed due to the severe drought during the past few days and hundreds of acres of paddy cultivation which were about to be harvested have also been destroyed due to the torrential rains that are currently falling in several provinces,” the Minister said. “The vegetable crops in the low country have been destroyed by the rain.  

Around 15,000 acres of green gram that were cultivated in the Hambantota district have also been completely destroyed. About 40 percent of the country’s total green gram requirements could be obtained through this cultivation,” the Minister further said.  

Therefore, the Minister advised Agriculture Ministry Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe to implement a plan immediately for growing vegetables in gardens and a food crop plan for this season.  

Also, the Minister informed that a report regarding food crop damage due to weather changes should be provided immediately by the Agriculture Department.