Farmers rue lack of proper rice market
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 15 2021: Lack of proper market for rice has emerged a matter of deep concern as farmers who had bumper harvest are unable to sell surplus rice for their sustenance and agricultural activities next season.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, some farmers contended they are extremely discouraged to continue rice cultivation due to absence of a proper market even as productivity has been greatly enhanced with the endorsement of high yielding seeds and new agricultural methods over the years.

Highlighting their grievances, the farmers continued that it takes a great deal of effort and monetary expense in cultivating rice and a good harvest is deemed to be the fruit of their efforts.

But unfortunately, many farmers are finding it hard to dispose their products in the market due to absence of a reliable market where they can sell the yield and generate money for sustenance, other family expenses and future cultivation cost.

Not only this, many of the farmers had to endure hardships in procuring a bag of fertilizer every year, they said while adding that cost of fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, daily labour charges for tilling, weeding and harvesting besides transportation charges has risen to an unprecedented level.

As such farmers, who are already facing financial crunches due to unavailability of rice market are left in the lurch and demoralised, they continued.

Noting that only 7.41 percent of the State's geographical area is arable with 72 percent of the 52 percent of arable land in the valley portion predominantly used for cultivation of rice, the farmers asked what would happen to the fields when farmers start giving up cultivation of rice.

They also asked what will be the use of Acts and laws framed to protect agricultural lands if farmers have to endure hardships to carry forward agricultural practices.

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