Paddy production sufficient

Ishara Mudugamuwa

According to statistics of the Agriculture Department, the paddy production of 2010/11 during Maha season, would be sufficient up to mid October this year.

The target for cultivation of paddy for Maha 2010/11 was 807,004 hectares. More than 777,260 hectares of paddy had been cultivated during the end of January and it was a 96 percent achievement from the target, a Department official said. Nearly 205,000 hectares of paddy land have been affected due to recent floods. It was mainly reported in major commercial paddy producing districts, especially in Eastern, North Central and Northern Provinces, he said.

He also said that the highest crop damage was reported from Batticaloa district and it was 58,100 hectares. The other major flood affected districts and 82 percent of paddy lands in Trincomalee, 68 percent in Kilinochchi, 59 percent in Ampara, 28 percent in Vavunia, 25 percent in Polonnaruwa and 18 percent in Anuradhapura were affected from floods. This will badly affect for seasonal paddy production. The targets have been exceeded in other areas such as Galle, Matara, Kurunegala and Gampaha.

The production forecast of paddy based on the cultivation progress in Maha 2010/11 season, was 3,045,279mt. But production loss due to floods is about 740,020mt. The revised production forecast for the season was Rs. 32.305 million metric tons, said the officer.