Security fears force Mannar farmers to abandon Yala cultivation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 31 May 2006, 10:48 GMT]
Mannar district Farmers who cultivate paddy under the Kattukarai Tank have decided not to carry out Yala (2006) cultivation because of current tense security situation. The decision was taken at a meeting of Management Committee of Kattukarai Tank held recently at Murunkan-Semman Tivu area in Mannar district, sources said.

Farmers said that their paddy fields lay both sides along Mannar-Madawachchi road and Uyilankulam-Parayanalankum road for a stretch of about 25 km in the government controlled territory, and expressed fear travelling to and from their fields. Several army camps, mini-camps and sentry points are located along these roads and the movement of army soldiers has increased following the escalation in number of killings.

Farmers who cultivate fields located in the LTTE controlled area in Mannar district also said they face attacks from deep penetration units of the Sri Lanka Army and their trek to their fields has become hazardous, sources said.

Majority farmers said that they have stocks of paddy harvested in Maha cultivation because of low price in open market, sources said.