Tall claims on reforming state's agriculture sector
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: September 09, 2021 -
IF at all the agriculture ministry accelerates due process and releases the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) as proposed by chief minister N Biren, then it would definitely help ease the Varied problems besetting the state's farmers as well as a handful of entrepreneurs who have started to venture into agriculture and allied sectors.
As establishment of large-scale manufacturing industries is not foreseeable in the near future on account of the landlocked nature of the state, logistic issues, limited land space, heavy dependence on others for power supply, raw material deficit, etc., development of the agriculture and allied sectors remains the best option to improve the socio-economic condition of the people of Manipur.
Whether it is seeking financial assistance under the AIF scheme or any other funding agencies, the government of Manipur shall have to strive for bringing visible changes in the food crop production sector without which it is obvious that the dependency syndrome would persist.
In Manipur's context, the video conference chaired by Union minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar on initiatives and schemes for farmers on Tuesday assumes great significance as it was conducted amid the farmers and civil societies alleging insufficient allocation and erratic distribution of urea fertilizer for the paddy crop.
For reasons best known to successive governments, shortage of urea during the prime paddy plantation season has been a perennial problem.
Even more disturbing is the fact that individuals eyeing to contest the upcoming state assembly election are able to adequately stock and distribute urea at discounted rate while many genuine farmers have to struggle for a single bag of the same.
Such hellish situation besetting farmers of the state is an affront to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of doubling the income of farmers by 2022.
Accepted that agriculture related problems are not limited to Manipur alone, for farmers in some states, which are considered as the food bowl of India, are also on the stree'ts protesting introduction of the three farm laws.
However, here in the state impact of the nationwide stir is negligible other than few political activists trying to score some brownie points.
Nevertheless, the government authorities should take note that the state's farmers crying foul over insufficient or belated provision of urea fertiliser underscore their firm resolve to produce food grain in adequate quantity and contribute their mite towards materialisation of a self-reliant Manipur.
It must be accepted that the most notable transformation Manipur has undergone is its heavy reliance on others for everything from being a self-reliant economy and thriving kingdom in the past.
As such no efforts should be spared to realise objectives of the video conference held on Tuesday for updating on effectiveness of the various schemes launched by the Union government touplift the country's economy by ensuring all possible technical and financial assistance to the farming community.
On its part, the government of Manipur must also substantiate its repetitive claims of making ail possible efforts to ensure effective implementation of flagship schemes by ensuring infrastructural improvement in agriculture and allied sectors.
In case the government efficiently implements the various schemes and projects initiated bythe centre, then it is certain that the dependency syndrome, which has been increasing manifold, could be adequately addressed to some extent in the coming years.
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