Cyclone Ditwah has caused severe destruction across Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector, wiping out extensive paddy and vegetable lands at the start of the Maha 2025/26 season. According to Agriculture Secretary D.P. Wickremesinghe, the cyclone has completely destroyed 108,000 hectares of rice paddies, along with 11,000 hectares of other field crops and 6,600 hectares of maize, posing a major setback for food supply in the coming year. In addition, 6,143 hectares of vegetables have suffered heavy losses, including 2,613 hectares of upcountry vegetables and 3,530 hectares of low-country crops.
Despite farmers sowing 615,000 hectares of paddy out of the planned 870,000 hectares for the Maha season, the early arrival of the cyclone offers room for re-cultivation. Rice farmers are said to be familiar with recurrent flooding and, with the timing of the disaster, affected fields can be replanted. The government has stepped in to compensate farming communities, offering Rs. 150,000 per hectare for rice, maize and other field crops, while vegetable farmers will receive Rs. 200,000 per hectare to cover money spent and restart cultivation.
Officials also noted that partially damaged farmlands will undergo separate assessments to determine losses more accurately. Farmers facing difficulty in reaching local authorities may contact the hotline 1918 for assistance. Wickremesinghe added that some government officers are themselves affected by floods, but all payments will be provided through existing disbursement mechanisms.
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