COLOMBO, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board has expanded crop insurance programs to give farmers stronger protection against natural disasters and climate-related risks, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation said in a statement on Thursday.
The ministry said the insurance schemes cover a wide range of crops, with priority given to key plantation crops such as cinnamon, rubber, banana, tea and coconut. The board has also introduced separate insurance coverage for seed paddy farms.
The schemes are offered at concessionary rates to help farmers protect their livelihoods from losses caused by adverse weather and other natural disasters, the ministry said.
Sri Lanka launched the expanded program amid growing concern over the impact of climate change and extreme weather on agriculture. The ministry said frequent droughts and heavy rainfall continue to affect crop production across the country.
This move comes in response to worries that El Nino conditions could heighten risks to farming activities, which can affect crop yields and productivity. ■