Yala cultivation facing huge threat

Nimal WIJESINGHE-Anuradhapura Add. Group Corr.

The 2012 Yala cultivation in the Anuradhapura District is facing a huge threat due to the acute shortage of irrigation water, resulting from the massive drought prevailing in the area.

At the recent Anuradhapura District Committee meeting lengthy discussions were held on the modalities of granting of relief to farmers who have been rendered helpless over the destruction of their cultivations.

The methodology to be adopted as a remedy for the water crises depending on the present water levels of the major, medium and small scale tanks was also on the agenda of discussions.

The water capacity of the major tanks in comparison to last month's (May) situation up to 20.5.2012 has been observed and registered as very low.

It has been found that contradictory to the Kanna meetings held regularly, a large number of farmers have cultivated more paddy than subsidiary food crops, which require the supply of more water. As an example under the Nachchaduwa main feeding canal 800.50 acres were scheduled to be cultivated with paddy whereas farmers in the area have cultivated 1200 acres. Instead of cultivating subsidiary food crops in 575 acres they have cultivated subsidiary food crops in only 135 acres. One reason attributable to increased paddy cultivation is the demand and market for the crop.

The scarcity of water, the non-issue of Mahaweli water and the lack of rain have caused nearly 350,000 acres of cultivated land to wither. The majority of lands have paddy aged between four to six weeks in them, and require water immediately.