Parliament discussed recommendations for farmers during the El Niño period

During the discussion, opposition representative and Member of Parliament Samagi Jana Balawegaya Nalin Bandara Jayamaha stated that there was a lack of coordination in the recommendations provided to farmers. According to him, while specialists gave correct advice in some areas, the situation was different in other regions, and the harvest of some producers who followed the instructions received was lost due to rainfall.

In response to these accusations, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Namal Karunaratne explained that the authorities' top priority was to conserve water in reservoirs rather than using it for rice sowing in January and February of the following year. Since the main climate risks are expected during the Yala season, the Maha season was started two weeks earlier as a preparatory measure. The Deputy Minister noted that the Ministry of Agriculture relied on international data and information from the Department of Meteorology.

The agency representative also pointed out an increase in environmental water evaporation rates by approximately 20 percent and reminded that farmers had been warned in advance about the expected precipitation. Producers were advised to use the same rice cultivars as in the Yala season to complete the harvesting by January and February, when severe drought is forecasted. At the same time, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture assured that compensation would be paid to the farmers affected by the rains.