Compensation for crop losses in A’pura, Polonnaruwa

 

The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board (AAIB) is in the process of finalizing the estimation of compensation for 2019/20 Maha season cultivation damages to be paid to farmers in the Anuradhapura District.
 

Anuradhapura District AAIB Director Rajewa Kularathne reported to Anuradhapura Government Agent R.M. Wanninayake that 11,749 farmers who cultivated in 21,466 acres in Anuradhapura and Thambuththegama had applied to their respective district offices for compensation for 2019/20 Maha season cultivation damages.

 

Compensation up to Rs. 40,000 per acre for crop damages caused by wild elephants, droughts and floods is granted by the AAIB.

 

In the 2018/19 Maha season, Rs. 149.7 million was paid to 4,540 farmers whose cultivations across 7,622 acres were destroyed and in the 2019 Yala season, Rs. 61.281 million was paid to 1,882 farmers in Anuradhapura and Thambuththegama zones.

 

The Anuradhapura AAIB has paid Rs. 39.595 million to 7,919 farmers under the farmers’ pension scheme. It is also learnt that irrespective of the amount of their monthly pension, every pensioner has been paid the Rs. 5,000 allowance.

 

According to the Polonnaruwa District AAIB Assistant Director, around 6,000 farmers are eligible to receive compensation for 2019/20 Maha cultivation season which is being processed.

 

Also, 1,018 farmers whose crops were damaged in the 2018/19 Maha season have been offered compensation worth Rs. 38.325 million for 3,106.8 acres. In addition, 824 farmers whose crops were destroyed during disasters have been paid Rs. 29.961 for 1,381.38 acres in the 2019 Yala season.