• Samba, keeri samba shortages continue despite Govt. denial
• Govt. estimates 108,000 hectares of agricultural land damaged

The Government has commenced inspections of disaster-affected agricultural lands and has begun issuing compensation payments to farmers to enable immediate recultivation, Ministry of Agriculture Additional Secretary of Agriculture Development Ajitha Manikrama told The Sunday Morning yesterday (20).

This, amid continued shortages of samba and keeri samba rice in the market.

“Damage inspections are currently underway, and compensation payments have already begun after collecting farmers’ bank details,” Manikrama said.

She added that payments were being processed through the Department of Agriculture for vegetable cultivation and through the Department of Agrarian Development for paddy lands.

Manikrama further stated that recent disasters had destroyed an estimated 108,000 hectares of agricultural land, with damage varying across districts. 

“In some areas, fields are buried under flood sediment and landslide debris, and cultivation cannot restart until clearing is completed,” she said. 

“In other locations, although the crops were destroyed, seed paddy was recovered, allowing farmers to recommence cultivation more quickly.”

Manikrama said the Ministry of Agriculture was providing Rs. 150,000 in compensation for damaged lands to support rapid recultivation. 

“If farmers begin planting now, a paddy harvest can be expected within three to three-and-a-half months,” she said. “For fast-growing vegetables such as radish, harvesting is possible in about two-and-a-half months, meaning supplies could return to the market by February or March.”

For severely affected highland cultivation areas such as Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, she said the Government had increased assistance. 

“Considering the higher cost of cultivation in these areas, Rs. 200,000 per farmer has been allocated to support the acquisition of the special fertiliser requirements in the region,” she said. Manikrama also noted that vegetable prices tended to rise during the festive season even in normal years.

Deputy Minister of Food Security R.M. Jayawardana said there was no overall rice shortage in the country, describing the current situation as one of managed supply. “There is no general shortage of rice. The issue is with certain varieties such as samba and keeri samba, and even that can be managed with proper regulation,” he said.

Jayawardana added that there was no fundamental reason for a sharp increase in rice prices. “Key cultivation areas like Anuradhapura were largely unaffected and harvests from these regions will be sufficient to meet national demand,” he said, adding that imported rice stocks were currently being released to the market to bridge gaps until the next harvest.

He also addressed price pressures in other food sectors, noting that poultry and vegetable markets had been severely affected. 

“Vegetable cultivation areas in Nuwara Eliya and Badulla have suffered extensive damage, and prices may increase as a result,” Jayawardana said. “Unlike dry rations, perishable goods such as vegetables and fruits are governed by supply and demand, and direct price control is not feasible under conditions of reduced supply.”

Meanwhile, Small- and Medium-Scale Rice Mill Owners’ Association President B.K. Ranjith said that shortages of keeri samba and samba had already been evident for several months. “Keeri samba has been in short supply for about three months and samba for at least one month,” he said.

Ranjith added that keeri samba, which had initially sold at about Rs. 20 above the Maximum Retail Price, was now selling at a premium of around Rs. 60, while samba was fetching about Rs. 25 above the controlled price. “With the festive season underway, we expect prices to increase further due to higher demand,” he said.

He also criticised previous rice import strategies, saying their impact had been limited. “In the past, imported rice was often kept in storage instead of being released properly to the market,” Ranjith said, adding that much of the rice currently being distributed consisted of stocks purchased last year. 

– By Faizer Shaheid