Friday, September 03, 2004
NCP, Uva, Southern areas to suffer worst crop failures
By Damitha Hemachandra
The North Central, Uva and deep South areas of the country is to suffer the worst agricultural failures since the last fifty years with only 4% of the total arable land being cultivated this Yala season due to the prevailing drought.
According to latest statistics released by the Departments of Agriculture and Irrigation, three million people in 14 out of 25 districts have been severely affected with nearly 158,000 families losing their livelihood and another 90,000 suffering from a dearth of drinking water.
According to the Irrigation Department statistics, the water levels of the 34 of the country's 58 main reservoirs and tanks are below 25% of their full capacity. The Parakrama Samudraya, which is already supporting 30,000 acres of paddy land, required immediate rain or 8,000 acre feet of water to keep these paddy lands alive.
The Minneriya Wewa too had provided water for only 55% of the paddy lands in the area, but the remaining water would be sufficient for only two releases according to the report. Meanwhile, the Department of Wildlife had decided to close the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary from September 1 and to keep the Bundala and Minneriya Wildlife parks closed for another one month.
The human-elephant conflict in the North Central Province had worsened with the prevailing drought, with elephants from Minneriya sanctuary ravaging villagers in search of water and food.
Meanwhile, the provincial authorities were complaining of severe shortage of funds for drought relief. Although the UPFA government approved the release of Rs. 659 million as disaster relief funds, provincial authorities pointed out that it was not adequate to meet the present demand.
According to Anuradhapura district officials, only 50 million had been allocated for the drought relief within the district although they require Rs. 230 million to meet the present demand for water and dry rations, while more funds were required for compensation.
The North Central, Uva and deep South areas of the country is to suffer the worst agricultural failures since the last fifty years with only 4% of the total arable land being cultivated this Yala season due to the prevailing drought.
According to latest statistics released by the Departments of Agriculture and Irrigation, three million people in 14 out of 25 districts have been severely affected with nearly 158,000 families losing their livelihood and another 90,000 suffering from a dearth of drinking water.
According to the Irrigation Department statistics, the water levels of the 34 of the country's 58 main reservoirs and tanks are below 25% of their full capacity. The Parakrama Samudraya, which is already supporting 30,000 acres of paddy land, required immediate rain or 8,000 acre feet of water to keep these paddy lands alive.
The Minneriya Wewa too had provided water for only 55% of the paddy lands in the area, but the remaining water would be sufficient for only two releases according to the report. Meanwhile, the Department of Wildlife had decided to close the Yala Wildlife Sanctuary from September 1 and to keep the Bundala and Minneriya Wildlife parks closed for another one month.
The human-elephant conflict in the North Central Province had worsened with the prevailing drought, with elephants from Minneriya sanctuary ravaging villagers in search of water and food.
Meanwhile, the provincial authorities were complaining of severe shortage of funds for drought relief. Although the UPFA government approved the release of Rs. 659 million as disaster relief funds, provincial authorities pointed out that it was not adequate to meet the present demand.
According to Anuradhapura district officials, only 50 million had been allocated for the drought relief within the district although they require Rs. 230 million to meet the present demand for water and dry rations, while more funds were required for compensation.
