More than 40,000 Acres destroyed by pests in Polonnaruwa

More than 40,000 acres of paddy cultivation had been destroyed by a pest in the Polonnaruwa district during the last Yala season, the Department of Agrarian Services said.

“An area of 42,830 acres of paddy cultivation has been destroyed by the pest Keedawa,” an official said.

“38,570 acres have been partially destroyed and 4,269 acres fully destroyed”, he said.

President Maithripala Sirisena has earlier promised that the government would supply seed paddy free of charge for cultivation during the Maha season to farmers whose paddy cultivation had been destroyed.

In response to the queries by journalists, the District Secretary of Polonnaruwa, Panduka Abeyewardena said that steps had been taken to supply seed paddy or pay cash compensation to the affected farmers.