By- Sukham Nanda
Imphal, Dec. 16:
Conversion of organic farming ceasing farm revenue to zero of Regional Potato Farm (RPF), Mao under the Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Manipur during the year 2018-19 has resulted loss of departmental money to the tune of Rs.90 lakhs.
The Department following an official approval of the state government initiated every process for converting the RPF, Mao to organic farming during the year 2018-19 for which funds were allotted for purchasing organic inputs for the production of potatoes to sell to the farmers, all districts of Manipur and neighbouring states an official source said.
The official source also mentioned that funds were also allotted for procurement of organic fertilizers and plant protection organic pesticides etc. The total amount of Rs.50 lakhs have already been allotted for the said financial years for productions of potatoes. But unfortunately there was low production of potatoes which let ceasing farm revenue to zero of RPF, Mao.
According to official records available during the year 2015-16 about 157 MT of potatoes were produced by the RPF, Mao covering an areas of 80 acres of land and there was revenue receipt of Rs.10.05 lakhs after reservation of seed potatoes for the next year plantation similarly during the year 2016-17 209 MT of potatoes were produced and there was revenue receipt of Rs 7.62 lakhs and in the year 2017-18 186.6 MT of potatoes were produced and having revenue receipts of Rs.10.55 lakhs.
Later on with the decision of state Government to convert the RPF, Mao to Organic farming from the year since 2018-19 the area coverage of farming have been reduced to 60 acres to 40 acres in the year 2019-20 with respective production of only 29.3 MT and 18MT of potatoes productions with zero revenue receipts and even half quantity of planting seeds could not be produced, a reliable source added.
In the meantime, there have been multiple allegation from various corner that, this low production of potatoes in the RPF, Mao indicates that no organic inputs were procured for the earmarked funds for about 50 lakhs. There were suspicions that there is no plantation of 40 acres in the years 2018-19 as there is no record for purchase of seed potatoes from other source.
It is also alleged that, all the funds allotted for the year 2018-19 i.e. Rs.90 lakhs were utilised only on paper. No proper manuring and fertilization, no proper intercultural operations, no proper weeding and no earthing up work were done, but the funds for payment of wages and funds for procurement of inputs and farm operation were drawn by preparing fake MR bills and supply bills.
It also further observed that, in any case, the production should not be decreased to such a very low quantity of 29.3MT even though it is converted to organic farming. Enough fund has been allotted to Dy. Director of Agri. (SC), RPF), Mao to produce more seed Potatoes for supply to farmers, all Districts of Manipur as well as to the neighbouring states also. What is the 18MT of potato seeds for such a big farm having more than 1000 acres of land.
It is also commonly observed that it is very unfortunate to let RPF, Mao to breeding farm of misutilisation of state funds which diminish the pride of state having such popular RPF, at Mao for the last many years.
