Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage has assured that there would be no food shortage in the country next year.
He said certain statements warning about a looming food shortage cannot be accepted as 90 to 95 percent of paddy fields in each district have already been cultivated now.
Minister Aluthgamage’s was speaking following a statement by former Agriculture Ministry Secretary Udith K. Jayasinghe after he sparked a debate with a warning about an imminent food shortage due to the fertiliser crisis in the country.
Jayasinghe was recently removed from the post of Agriculture Ministry Secretary and D.M.L.D. Bandaranayake was appointed to the post.
Commenting on the statements by certain parties of a food shortage next year, the Minister assured that there will be no food shortage next year, adding that these are mere smear campaigns by the Opposition.
The Minister said 800,000 hectares will be cultivated during the Maha season, with 750,000 hectares already under cultivation.