LOUSHAL appeals
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 28 2021:
The Loumee Shinmee Apun Lup (LOUSHAL) has appealed the Government to use the locally grown rice for distribution to pregnant women and children under mid-day meal programmes under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) of the Social Welfare Department.
Mutum Churamani, president of LOUSHAL said this at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club and added that LOUSHAL had submitted a 4 point memorandum on October 26 to the Chief Minister to use the locally grown variety of rice for distribution to children and pregnant women instead of the variety that are catered from other States of the Country.
The variety of rice grown in the State is better and liked by the locals more than the ones imported from other States and it would be not right to assume that children and pregnant women would prefer the imported varieties more than the local varieties, he added.
Adding that a number of farmers of the State are facing trouble finding market for their annual produce, if the Government procure them from the farmers and used them to distribute under various programmes, that it will help the farmers as well as be beneficial in achieving the SDG Goal 2 Target 1 of the United Nations, Mutum Churamani added.
He also appealed the Government to create a post for Agricultural Producer Commissioner to ensure that a friendly approach between agriculture related departments and the farmers is established.
Mutum Churamani also appealed the Government to identify cultivable lands and provide proper irrigation facilities for better productivity and urged the Government to buy agricultural produce from the farmers.