Opposition MP Premila Kumar has accused the Coalition Government of failing to prepare adequately for the El Niño crisis, saying its response to struggling farmers is “too little, too late”.
Mrs Kumar said farmers were already facing crop losses, dying pastures and feed shortages, yet the Government was only now rolling out what it described as its first-stage response.
“El Niño is not a surprise. The warnings were there months in advance,” she said.
“The Government had ample time to prepare, put resources in place and support farmers before the situation deteriorated.”
She also questioned the decision to give farmers only seven days to submit Expressions of Interest for assistance, saying the timeframe failed to consider the challenges faced by farmers in remote communities and the outer islands.
Mrs Kumar said many farmers had limited internet access and faced difficulties navigating bureaucratic application processes.
She further questioned the conditions attached to the assistance, saying submitting an application did not guarantee support, with farmers still required to undergo eligibility checks, field verification and technical assessments.
She said the Government had not provided clear details on the budget allocated, the number of water tanks and irrigation kits available, the number of farmers expected to benefit or when assistance would be delivered.
“Without clear figures and timelines, this announcement is just lip service,” she said.
Mrs Kumar said farmers needed immediate practical assistance, including water, livestock feed and support to protect their crops and livelihoods.
She said promoting drought-resistant seedlings and climate-smart farming practices was not enough to address the immediate crisis, as these were long-term measures that would do little for farmers already losing their crops and income.
“Farmers are paying the price for poor planning and delayed action. They deserve more than last-minute interventions and ministerial promises,” she said.
