Colombo, Dec. 29 -- The government is preparing to import seeds and vegetables following the severe damage caused to the agricultural sector by Cyclone Ditwah, National Farmers' Union Chairman Anuradha Thennakoon said.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Thennakoon highlighted that although the Agriculture Department has large-scale seed farms, low seed production is a serious setback for the sector. "We have serious suspicions that some officials are not producing seeds despite having the capacity, possibly acting in the interests of imported seed companies. Currently, more than 80% of Sri Lanka's seed paddy requirement depends on imports," he added.

Thennakoon said that during the Maha season, cultivation covers 850,000 hectares, requiring ...