The Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board has commenced compensation payments for farmers who suffered crop damage during the 2024 Maha season floods. The Board has urged farmers who have not received their compensation by January 28 to report the issue via the ‘1918’ Hotline.
Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board Chairman Pemasiri Jasingharachchi said that the payment process began on January 30, prioritising farmers affected by the November 2024 floods. He emphasised that the Government has processed compensation payments within just two months of the disaster, unlike previous administrations, which took longer.
As part of the first phase, Rs. 168 million has been transferred to the Bank Accounts of 6,234 farmers in Polonnaruwa, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya Districts. Compensation for affected farmers in other Districts will be disbursed before January 28.
The total area of damaged farmland eligible for compensation in these three Districts amounts to 13,376 acres. The payments prioritise Paddy farmers first, followed by Maize farmers. In the second phase, farmers from Mannar, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Ampara and Batticaloa will receive compensation.
The 2024 Maha season floods impacted around 55,000 farmers, destroying approximately 75,000 acres of farmland. The Government has allocated Rs. 185 million for immediate relief and Rs. 1 billion for total compensation payments for affected farmers this year.
To prevent irregularities, the compensation is directly transferred to the farmers’ Bank Accounts. Payments are released only after receiving certified lists of eligible farmers from the Regional Agrarian Service Officers.
Farmers who have not received compensation by January 28 should contact the 1918 Hotline. The chairman emphasised that this number should only be used for unreceived compensation inquiries, and not for other matters.
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