Farmers press for protection of arable lands
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 06 2011:
A meeting of farmers held today resolved to press the government for drafting and enforcing an Act for protecting agricultural land in the state.
The meeting hosted by LOUSAL was held Sangeet Natya Mahavidyalaya, Takhel Leikai.
It was moderated by Th Iboyaima, president of the Irabot Foundation.
The meeting attended by representatives of more than 15 farmers' bodies from different parts of the state arrived at a five-point resolution.
The first resolution demanded government to draft a policy for protection of arable lands by enacting a state agricultural land Act.
Arable land of over 83,450 hectares at the shores of the Loktak lake cannot be utilised for cultivation since the inception of Ethai barrage.
This has resulted in a sharp reduction of rice production.
This has led to an estimated loss of income of around ' 536 crore per year and rendered jobless to thousands of farmers.
The second resolution observed and demanded take over of the project by the state government.
The third point demands taking prior consent from farmers before giving approval to any project that will affect or give an impact to arable lands.
The fourth urged the government to introduce a new discipline to encompass agriculture, horticulture and social anthropology in school curriculum while the fifth was related with the rights of indigenous people.