COLOMBO, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Department of Agriculture on Thursday urged farmers to use water sparingly as the country prepares for the possible impact of El Nino conditions.
Thushara Wickramaarachchi, director general of the Department of Agriculture, advised farmers to cultivate short-term crop varieties as a precautionary measure.
He said farmers should not be unnecessarily alarmed about cultivation during the Yala farming season, but should manage water carefully and follow guidance from agriculture officials.
The department was monitoring the situation and would provide farmers with necessary advice if weather conditions changed, Wickramaarachchi said.
Sri Lanka could face lower rainfall and possible drought conditions in July and August if El Nino develops, a senior official at the Department of Meteorology said last week. ■
