Agriculture Ministry to assess crop damage due to heavy rains

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Agriculture says that an island wide survey has been launched to assess farm lands that have been damaged due to the recent heavy rains. Its secretary Senior Professor Udith K. Jayasinghe says the survey is based on issues including the re-application of organic fertilizer to damaged crops. He further states that according to the information received, farms in the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa Districts have been severely affected by the heavy rains. Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry says that guidelines to be followed by the agriculture sector has already been drafted and submitted to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Professor Udith K. Jayasinghe added that it includes risk management measures to be taken in the event of heavy rains. He further stated that this also includes proposals to import high quality eco-friendly fertilizers to be provided to farmers whose crops have been damaged by the rains.