The Hon. Namal Karunaratne - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, I answer the Question raised under Standing Order 27(2).

¶ 02 1) Yes. In the Northern Province, 14,235 cattle and buffaloes have died.

¶ 03 2) Under National Budget Circular 08/2025(1)8, provision was made through the Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH) to the Chief Secretary, Northern Province, amounting to Rs. 900.49 million for compensation to affected farmers under the Disaster Empowerment Programme. Of this, Rs. 258.85 million in compensation has already been paid; funds are allocated to pay the balance.

¶ 04 Compensation rates under Circular 08/2025(1)8 to registered farms: - Cross-bred cattle: Rs. 200,000 per dead animal, up to 10 animals (maximum Rs. 2,000,000) - Indigenous cattle: Rs. 50,000 per dead animal, up to 20 animals (maximum Rs. 1,000,000)

¶ 05 Payments are being made accordingly.

¶ 06 3) and 4) Measures by DAPH: - Medicines worth Rs. 25 million supplied free for treatment of affected animals across all districts in the Northern Province. - Mobile veterinary clinics conducted in disaster-affected areas. - Due to Cyclone “Ditwah” and floods, extensive natural and cultivated pasture was destroyed; to mitigate nutritional risk, 266,650 kg of compounded feed worth Rs. 28 million was provided free to 4,749 cattle and buffalo farms in the Northern Province, as follows: - Jaffna: 75,000 kg - Kilinochchi: 45,000 kg - Mullaitivu: 50,000 kg - Mannar: 53,650 kg - Vavuniya: 43,000 kg - Total: 266,650 kg

¶ 07 5) Policy and programmes: - Under the “Dairy Hub” national programme, dairy farmers and value-chain actors are being organized via veterinary service centre clusters to empower dairy farmers. Such organization will facilitate assistance to members during future natural hazards. - In 2026–2027, provincial DAPH development projects will prioritize farmers affected by the recent disaster. - Additionally, to restore the domestic dairy sector impacted by Cyclone “Ditwah,” a detailed 18-month plan supported by World Bank assistance, with an investment of Rs. 2,500 million, will be implemented. It aims not only to restore pre-disaster production levels but also to rebuild a climate-resilient and sustainable dairy industry in affected provinces.

¶ 08 This integrated approach is structured under five pillars: I. Feed and nutrition supply II. Animal welfare and wellbeing III. Animal health improvement IV. Farm infrastructure development V. Genetic improvement

¶ 09 Under the World Bank’s IRDCRP project, a rapid recovery financing mechanism (CERC) has been designed for emergencies.

¶ 10 Forward-looking measures to reduce future disaster damage include: 1) Promoting permanent livestock shelters instead of temporary structures. 2) Encouraging common graziers to establish improved fodder cultivation with inputs/support to build a fodder enterprise base. 3) Promoting fodder conservation and silage production. 4) Shifting from extensive to semi-intensive and intensive management to enhance productivity. 5) Gradual transition from free-range to semi-/intensive livestock management. 6) Registering all livestock farms and introducing suitable insurance schemes. 7) Introducing Government-funded concessional loan schemes for affected farmers.

¶ 11 These measures are underway and being advanced.