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

¶ 01 On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation:

¶ 02 Answer tabled:

¶ 03 (a) (i) No formal assessment was conducted by the Ministry in 2024 on the magnitude of cultivation damage by wild animals. However, a semi-annual aggregate estimate was done in 2022 by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute. Detailed information has been placed in the Library. (ii) No national loss estimation was carried out in 2024. While losses from droughts/floods are assessed, continuous damage by animals such as elephants, monkeys, porcupines, wild boar and peafowl has not been nationally quantified. (iii) A committee has been appointed to manage major and minor wild animal damage, which is: - Conducting enumerations on elephants, peafowl, porcupines, monkeys. - Selecting an expert panel to identify sustainable management methods. - Additionally, at district level with 50% contribution: distribution of air rifles, provision of electric nets and fences to protect cultivations. - HARTI conducted a workshop with all Agrarian Service Centres to develop a sustainable programme to minimize wild animal damage in agricultural areas; a guideline titled “An Approach to Human-Wildlife Coexistence” is being prepared and disseminated.

¶ 04 (b) (i) As at 31.12.2024, 13,207 agricultural firearms were in issue. (ii) As of 01.12.2024, the price of a 12 bore SG cartridge was Rs. 500.76. (iii) District agents had sold 12 bore SG cartridges at a 30% margin. To grant relief to farmers, with Defence Ministry intervention, the margin was reduced to 20% effective 01.12.2024, reducing the price to Rs. 500.76 per cartridge. (iv) Due to foreign exchange constraints over the past three years and higher VAT, input costs for munitions have tripled. Hence the policy decision to reduce the distributor margin from 30% to 20% from 01.12.2024 to provide relief.

¶ 05 (c) Not applicable.