Hill farmers draw attention over poor rainfall at Khoupum area
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 07 2014:
The Khoupum Area Farmers' Welfare Association, Tamenglong district in a press release draws the attention of the concerned authority over the drought like situation in the Khupum area due to erratic and deficient rainfall as this year's irregular monsoon has failed to inundate the fertile khupum valley having an area of around 1000 hectare arable land.
Most of the paddy fields are lying idle and barren with no agricultural activities due to scanty of rainfall.
The release added that the plight of the farmers are further compounded by the failure of the Khoupum dam canal project to provide irrigational facilities as it has been in the state of defunct and inoperative for the last many years.
The nodal department, IFCD, Manipur has not taken up any major renovation and maintenance works to make the Khoupum dam canal project functional.
Had the Khoupum dam canal project been in the functional state, the plight of the farmers would have been lessening during such condition of the rainwater deficit year, it conveyed.
The survey reports of the Directorate of Environment based on the data compiled by the Indian Meteorological Department has revealed that the rate of rainfall is 25 % less than normal in Manipur and Tamenglong district in one of the severely affected district in the State.
The abject condition of the farmers of the Khoupum area should be looked into by the concerned department by taking up relief and other measures so as to ameliorate the plight of the farmers.
There is great apprehension among the farmers of the Khoupum area that this year's drought like situation will bring misfortune in the form of famine in coming year, it added.
So, the Association once again appeals to the Government of Manipur particularly the concerned departments to take serious note of the drought like situation prevailing in the Khoupum area and that of the maintenance and renovation of the Khoupum dam canal project and also do the needful at the earliest in the interest of the people of the area, it appealed.