IT News
Imphal, Mar 1:
The ongoing crisis in Manipur since May 3, 2023, has significantly impacted agricultural activities in the state. The violence has prevented farmers from accessing their paddy fields, leading to severe repercussions on agricultural output. During the question hour session in the state assembly today, Agriculture Minister Th. Bishwajit addressed concerns regarding the extent of damage caused.
According to the assessment conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Government of Manipur, approximately 5127 hectares of agricultural land have been affected. The total loss in paddy crops amounts to 15,437 metric tons, valued at around Rs. 38.6 crore.
Responding to queries from MLA Surjakumar Okram, Agriculture Minister Th. Bishwajit revealed that 5901 farmers have been adversely affected, as reported by the Deputy Commissioners of the affected regions. Out of these, 3483 farmers have been recommended for compensation totaling Rs. 18.37 crore in the initial phase. The Home Department sanctioned funds for these affected farmers on February 21, 2024.
The Agriculture Minister further informed that verification processes are underway by the Deputy Commissioners at the district level for the remaining 2399 affected farmers. Additionally, 19 farmers have been deemed ineligible for compensation due to various reasons, including delicacy in the verification process.
