Peradeniya University’s Agriculture Faculty Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe said the farmers have to complain of water shortage for cultivation because they did not begin cultivation on time according to the instructions of the Agriculture Department.
The professor said that the Agriculture Department always gives instructions to begin cultivation during the season with the inter-monsoon rains and accordingly, the effect of dry weather conditions on the farmers who did so, is minimal. He also said that the farmers who have started cultivation according to the relevant instructions have already completed harvesting or are about to harvest. Prof.Marambe said this while speaking to the media regarding the threat of 65,000 acres of paddy fields being destroyed due to the drought. He also said that at this time that the end of the Yala Season has been reached, the south-west monsoon wind has weakened and the rains are decreasing. He said further that all the farmers who are currently suffering from water shortages are the ones who did not start cultivation at the proper time.
He emphasized that in the past, due to the problems related to fertilizers, the farmers came through a very unfortunate period and this time they have turned to farming again with confidence and this confidence should not be allowed to be damaged for any reason and that it is important to release at least the minimum quantity of water required for cultivations. He said that there is no argument that the electricity production process greatly affects the economy of this country and that the responsible departments should take the relevant decisions after considering the water required for the electricity production and the farmers in a balanced manner.
Asela Kuruluwansa