Dry fields continue to haunt farmers in state
State Govt remaining silent over the issue
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 06 2012:
Even after the farmers have tried their level best to plant paddy, deficient water continues to play havoc with cracks appearing on their fields and whatever little that have been planted drying up, leaving no hope for reaping the grain of their hard labour.
In spite of the problems being faced by the farmers due to insufficient rainfall during the month of June and July, the State Government failed to announce drought in the state on the ground that the rate of rainfall received was much above the drought declaration point.
Instead, it formed a committee and conducted survey of the fields much to the disappointment of the farmers.
After the survey, the government arranged water pumps to be distributed among the farmers for draining water to the dried paddy fields.
However, vast tract of agricultural land continue to remain dry, thus adding to the woes of poor farmers in the state.
There have also been allegations that most farmers did not receive the water pumps supposed to be provided to them for irrigating their fields.
Now, it has emerged that the situation is worst in Samurou and Wangoi under Imphal West district with more than 7 paris of paddy fields remaining dry.
Even the paddy fields which looked a bit green some time back, have also become parched due to want of sufficient water.
Interestingly, the impending agricultural crisis has crept up despite the presence of Imphal Barrage, which has been constructed with the stated objective of supplying water to irrigate the paddy fields.
With the state government and more particularly the Ministers and MLAs concerned turning a deaf ear to the problems of the farmers, the poor tiller of the soil of the area have expressed apprehension over a possible famine.
The news of paddy fields getting dried up from want of sufficient water have also poured in from different parts of the state including the hill districts.