Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, said that the most suitable approach for replanting paddy fields damaged by recent heavy rains is short-duration rice varieties that can be harvested within three months.
Prof. Marambe stated that, if the required quantity of short-duration rice seeds can be sourced, farmers could begin replanting by mid-December. However, opting for rice varieties that take 3.5 months to mature, which yield higher harvests, the crops may pose a risk of damage due to heavy rains anticipated in late March, the usual harvesting period for these varieties.
To avoid this risk, he recommended using three-month rice varieties that can be harvested before the end of March.
Currently, the country faces a significant shortage of short-duration rice seeds, which may hinder replanting efforts. While reports indicate that approximately 332,000 acres of paddy fields were affected by the rains, complete destruction has occurred on about 200,000 acres.
If these fields are not replanted, the potential loss for the Maha season could be around 360,000 metric tons of rice.
Prof. Marambe emphasised that, ensuring the availability of short-duration rice seeds and facilitating the replanting process, are critical to minimising these losses.
He added that compensating farmers for their losses and providing the necessary support for replanting are responsibilities of the government.
He also pointed out that the Department of Agriculture and certified seed suppliers meet only 16%-18% of the country’s total seed paddy requirement, with the rest being produced by farmers themselves. Therefore, achieving self-sufficiency in seed paddy production within the country is essential, he noted.
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