Sri Lanka, Sept. 3 -- The Government has allocated Rs. 3 billion to provide agricultural insurance compensation to farmers whose crops have been damaged by drought conditions associated with El Nino.

Paddy, maize and several other crops have been affected by prevailing dry weather conditions in districts including Monaragala, Polonnaruwa, Hambantota, Anuradhapura and Ampara.

According to preliminary assessments, around 8,000 acres of farmland belonging to approximately 7,000 farmers have been affected. The reported damage includes 1,401 acres in Monaragala, 1,259 acres in Polonnaruwa, 783 acres in Hambantota, 1,055 acres in Ampara and 1,923 acres in Anuradhapura.

Teams comprising field officers of the Agricultural and Agrarian Insuran...