Ministry of Agriculture Aims to Reduce Acreage Limit for Ammunition Permits to Curb Crop Damage

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Ministry of Agriculture is setting its sights on reducing the land size requirement for obtaining ammunition permits.

This move aims to address the issue of crop damage caused by wild animals.

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Ministry Secretary to draft a Cabinet paper seeking approval to lower the current limit from 5 acres to 2 acres.

The move comes from the plight of farmers in the Kegalle and Kandy districts. These farmers informed the Minister that wild animal incursions have devastated their harvests. Previously, they could harvest around 800 coconuts, but now they struggle to collect even 100.

In response to these concerns, farmers have requested a reduction in the current 5-acre minimum requirement for obtaining ammunition permits to protect their crops from wild animals.