IT News
Imphal, Oct 10,
After farmers witness destruction of their paddy fields by frequent flash flood during the beginning of this year, they now face extreme hardship due to draught like situation in the state. Paddy production this year may reduce to half the annual production as almost all paddy fields in the valley districts of the state has been dried. The situation is even more devastating in Hill area.
Worried over the situation, representatives of farmers’ body from across the valley districts of the state today staged a sit-in protest at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai here in Imphal demanding compensation as immediate measures as well as paddy field owner to reduce their Lousal (rent on agri product). The protest staged today is being organised under the aegis of the All Manipur Progressive Farmers’ Association (AMPFA). The association also demanded a long term policy for the farmers so that genuine farmers could be easily identified and also to make sure of their security , the association also urged the state government to make sure that all genuine farmers of the state gets Kishan Credit Card.
“It was because of the lack of proper irrigations by constructing cannel and mini dams that we the farmers are facing hardship today”, President of the AMPFA, L. Dhana Luwang said while talking to this reporters.
He further added that they have got report about concern authority stating to media that almost all cannel construction works for the paddy field in valley districts has been completed. But in reality those construction work seems to be completed on table only as there are no proper cannel at any of the paddy fields.
General Secretary of the farmers’ body W. Inao while talking to this reporter said that the farmers appreciated the Chief Ministers’ announcement for distribution of Water Pump. But he expressed skeptical on whether the pump if distributed will be able to reach the genuine farmers of the state.
On being asked if it is okay to declare the present state of the state as draught, Inao said that even as if declared draught they don’t believe that it will serve the farmers as the package which may get will be distributed among the politicians and bureaucrats.
Manipur annually produced around 6 Matric Ton of Rice and this year due to scarcity of water the production may reduce half the total.
October month is high time for appropriate supply of water to the paddy fields, but due to scarcity of water, most paddy fields are getting dried.
H. Rajen, a farmer from Lamboi Khongnangkhong in Imphal East said that he cultivates one pari of paddy field and this time there will be total lost. A loss of one year can hardly be recovered in two years.
“I am worried as my family’s only means for survival depends on the Paddy field I cultivated, now I don’t know how to pay the lousal to my owner”, Rajen said.
“There were report of water pump distributed for farmers last 2 3 years back but the reality is that the pump were for people who are near and dear one of the politician and it never reached the farmers. A farmer while taking to this reporter also asked where are all those pump which were distributed.
