Vavuniyaa MP requests relief for rain affected farmers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 March 2008, 02:56 GMT]
Vavuniyaa district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Mr.Sivasakthi Aanandan appealed to the Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services to compensate farmers of the districts of Killinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannaar and Vavuniyaa for the loss of their crops due to the recent torrential rain. Many of the affected farmers depend on the income from the crops, and are under severe economic hardship, the MP said in his appeal.

About 2,500 acres of paddy and other crops have been destroyed in Vavuniyaa, and about 12,500 acres in Mannaar district.

In Mullaitivu district about 1,500 acres of crops including paddy and cash crops have been completely destroyed, the MP said.

The Ministry of Agriculture has already promised compensation to similarly affected farmers in the southern districts Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Matale, according to Mr.Sivasakthi Aanandan.