Rs 371.215 m worth seed paddy for drought-hit farmers

The Treasury granted Rs 371.215 million to provide 291,657 bushels of seed paddy to farmers affected by the drought of Yala 2012 free of charge, the Finance and Planning Ministry said in a release yesterday.

"The farmers claim to have 100 percent losses from their harvest. A total land area of 58,319 Ha is estimated to be cultivated under this provision. It is projected to have 262,435 Mts of paddy harvest which would amount to Rs 8,398 million," the release added.

The President's objective to grant relief is to strengthen the home economy of farmers affected during the drought and to ensure the country's food security, it added.

The Treasury has coordinated with the Agriculture Ministry and District Secretaries and Government Agents to fulfill this task.