“Children become malnourished without food after June” !

The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera says that although the tanks, anicuts and paddy fields are full of water, only 45% of the paddy cultivation has commenced during the Yala season.

The farmers have abandoned paddy cultivation during the Yala season due to the shortage of fertilizers and pesticides and chemicals available in the market, he said.

Due to this there is a possibility of a huge shortage of rice in the country this year and accordingly around 800,000 metric tons of rice will have to be imported for consumption this year and a kilo of imported rice will have to be sold at a price of more than 200 rupees, the Minister said.

The Minister said that due to the possible food shortages in the country by June, many children could be suffering from malnutrition and mothers could become more prone to low birth weight babies.