Sit-in demands protection of agri land
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 27 2013:
Raising strong opposition against utilisation of prime plantation land for non-agricultural pur-poses, a sit-in-demonstration staged today at Keishampat Lairembi community hall demanded effective measures to protect existing agricultural area in Manipur.
The protest demonstration held from 11 am till 2 pm was organised by Loumee Shinmee Apun Lup (Lousal) .
According to Lousal secretary Akel Wangkhem increasing number of non-agricultural activities such as construction of private houses, Government facilities, private educational institutions, fuel pumps, setting up of manufacturing units/workshops, airport/highways expansion works and upcoming railways project has significantly reduced cultivable areas.
Apart from recent projects having adverse impact on both the cultivators and State's quantum of production, the Loktak project had inundated vast tracts of prime cultivable land in no less than 15 assembly segment located in the periphery of the region's largest fresh water lake, Akel highlighted adding that inspite of expectation the Loktak project, also having irrigation components, had failed to justify its existence.
Neither the citizens could be ensured regular power supply nor the irrigation canals irrigate the surrounding fields, he maintained.
Criticising Agriculture Department authorities of remaining indifferent to the plight of the farmers, Akel opined that policy makers, particularly agriculture experts, are focused on setting production targets while ignoring the importance of protecting existing cultivable areas or restoring thousands of hectares of fields.
Asserting that agriculture practice in existing fields could make significant contribution to the annual yield of both food and cash crops thereby reduce dependence on other States for food-grains, he also categorically stated that no amount of innovative agricultural methods could ensure food security if the fields continue to decrease.
Suggesting that manipur Agricultural land Act be implemented immediately for food-grain sufficiency as well as for survival of the farmers, the secretary also desired that Government chalk out an effective irrigation plan so that cultivable areas do not remain barren during the lean season.