Oct 29, Colombo: Sri Lanka Ministry of Agrarian Services and Wildlife has taken steps to assist the farmers to re-cultivate the crops damaged due to the severe drought that affected the major agricultural districts of the country during the past few months.

North eastern monsoon has activated in Sri Lanka presently and the drought-affected districts are receiving adequate rains for the cultivation. Rain water is also being stored in man-made reservoirs.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Ministry to provide seed paddy free of charge for re-cultivation, says the Deputy Minister of Agrarian Services and Wildlife S.M. Chandrasena.

The Ministry has found that 232,000 acres of paddy crops have been destroyed due to the drought in North Central Province. The Ministry has taken steps to provide 386,000 bushels of seed paddy free of charge to the farmers for re-cultivation.

In addition, Minister Chandrasena said that 300 tractors that are in the possession of the Department of Agrarian Services would be given to the farmer organizations to be used in soil preparation.