Vision to distribute local rice under NFSA not impossible
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 22, 2022 -

WITH mostly poor or ordinary agricultural performance in the last many years, it's hard to believe that the government of Manipur's endeavour to purchase locally produced paddy rice for distribution to ration card holders under the public distribution system will be able to meet the demand.

Nevertheless, there's nothing wrong in trying to launch the project as successful implementation of the same is bound to inspire the food producers to work harder and eventually lead to realisation of the food-grain sufficiency goal.

In pursuance of the objective, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution (CAF&PD) organised a public meeting on procurement of locally produced paddy rice with minister L Susindro Meitei chairing the discussion session on Monday.

There is no doubt that the first-time minister would be keen to prove his worth by streamlining the CAF&PD department, which is often embroiled in controversies owing to official apathy and allegations of politicisation of the food-grain distribution mechanism.

Addressing those gathered at the meeting, Susindro affirmed that procurement of locally produced paddy is the first step taken up by the N Biren-led government for the welfare of the farmers and appealed to the farmers to have faith in the government saying it is committed to making the project successful.

Along with assuring that the state government will do the needful to solve the problems faced by the farmers, the minister also declared that efforts would be made to improve the irrigation system.

Indeed, the government needs to accord importance to augmentation of the irrigation network without which success in the agricultural sector is unthinkable.

The government cannot ignore the fact that the primary reason for vast tract of the farmlands left barren after single harvest of paddy crop in a calendar year is due to non-existent or defunct of existing irrigation system.

As such the minister's aspiration to see farmers go for double and triple cropping will remain a pipe dream unless there is marked improvement in the irrigation system, which will ultimately depend on cohesion and efficiency among the line departments.

Success of the policy to procure the local paddy rice variety will also depend on sound financial position of the state government for the procurement price will have to be in commensurate with the market rate while its proposed distribution under the National Food Security Act shall have to be at-least on par with the price of rice made available to the ration card holders.

Compared to many states which are gradually moving away from their traditional agriculture-based to industry or service-oriented economy, Manipur continues to depend on agricultural sector, especially the rice crop.

There were study reports that the staple food crop's yield level is much higher than that of the national level.

However, the annual yield unable to match with the demand in the state implies that the present single-cropping system must be upgraded.

Thus, for materialisation of his vision, minister Susindro shall have to not only constantly consult with his ministerial colleagues who are in-charge of agriculture, irrigation and allied sectors but also try to decode why rice cultivation in Manipur has not been very impressive, despite its favourable agro-climatic condition.