Sri Lanka, March 5 -- The Chairman of the National Farmers' Union, Anuradha Tennakoon, has warned that this year's harvesting operations are at serious risk as the government reportedly has fuel stocks sufficient for only one month, while at least eight million litres of diesel are required to harvest around 800,000 acres of paddy fields.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tennakoon said the prevailing fuel shortage has severely affected farmers in major agricultural districts, including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Mahaweli Zone C, where harvesting is currently underway.

"It is estimated that at least eight million litres of diesel are needed to harvest 800,000 acres. A harvester consumes between 10 and 12 litres of diesel per acre. Howeve...