Subsidised Urea reaches farmers in conflict-hit foothill villages

The Department of Agriculture, in coordination with Kom Union Manipur (KUM), has reportedly distributed subsidised urea to several villages in the Khoirentak area, offering much-needed relief to farmers affected by the ongoing conflict in Manipur. The villages that benefited from the initiative included Vangtroh, Harmantlang, Upper Khoirentak, Lower Khoirentak, Sangpangjar, and Kangathei.
These areas, identified as buffer zones, have been severely impacted by the unrest in the state, with disruptions in transport and communication hindering the movement of essential goods and people. Sources from Kom Union Manipur indicated that this was the first time farmers in the region received fertilizer at the government-subsidised rate of Rs. 270 per bag. It was noted that, prior to this, some farmers had to pay up to Rs. 1,200 per bag due to supply shortages caused by the ongoing crisis.
The distribution was reportedly carried out under the supervision of Peter Salam, Director of Agriculture, and L. Sanatomba, Assistant Fertilizer Officer. Their efforts were appreciated by the farming community, who were said to have expressed their gratitude for ensuring that the benefits of government schemes reached them during a particularly difficult time.
Serto Ahoa Kom, President of Kom Union Manipur, stated that the initiative was expected to contribute towards food security, self-sufficiency, and self-reliance in food grain production. He expressed hope that such efforts by the department would continue to support the resilience of farmers in the region.