All departments related to the agriculture sector have decided that farmers should be encouraged to start paddy cultivation in all areas on or around 15 October in the upcoming Maha cultivation season, the Agriculture Ministry said.

According to the Ministry, the 2023-2024 Maha season and the 2024 Yala season are likely to be two crucial cropping seasons, and that because of the ongoing El Nino process, there may be heavy rainfall in the months of October and November this Maha season. They said that next, lands may be dry once again during the Yala season, as per domestic and international meteorological sources.

Sources within the Ministry told The Daily Morning that therefore, emphasis was placed on the importance of working to manage rainwater properly without wasting it, together with the contribution of all the agricultural aspects.

These decisions have been taken at a discussion held at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute with the participation of all parties affiliated with the agricultural sector. The discussion was held regarding the implementation of plans related to the upcoming Maha and Yala seasons. The discussion was chaired by the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera and was attended by officials representing the Ministry, the Department of Agriculture, the Meteorological Department, the Mahaweli Authority, and the Irrigation Department, as well as university professors, provincial agriculture directors, and trade union representatives.

According to sources, the Department of Meteorology was blamed by many parties for not keeping them informed about this dry weather condition in advance. It was said that due to the dry weather conditions that occurred, too many other crops in addition to paddy had been damaged, and that it had in turn affected national food production.

Speaking during the meeting, Amaraweera emphasised that, for the first time, all parties should contribute to planning a crop season together.