- due to the prolonged drought conditions prevailing from the beginning of this year, crop cultivation in many parts of the country has been affected and it has been observed that farmers experience difficulties in procuring seed paddy in sufficient quantities to commence cultivation for the next Maha Season. The proposal made by Hon. Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Agriculture, to purchase seed paddy by the Department of Agriculture, from seed paddy producing farmers as well as from private sector seed paddy producers to meet the shortfall of the supply and distribute same among the drought affected farmers on cost recovery basis, was approved by the Cabinet.