Farmers to rally to save arable lands
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 05, 2011:
State farmers under the Loumi Shinmi apunba Lup (LOUSAL) are planning to organize cycle rallies across the four valley districts demanding framing of a state policy to save the diminishing agricultural lands.
The rallies are to be held over five days starting from February 8, LOUSAL president Lourembam Ranjit informed at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club today.
He asserted that due to lack of a policy and increasing utilization of agricultural lands for other purposes, cultivable lands are diminishing by the day.
Justifying the demand for a land utilization policy, Ranjit said that instead of trying to increase the productivity of the state for self sustainenance, the state is marching ahead towards a consumer oriented society.
If the society proceeds to go ahead in this way, the future of our society is bleak, he cautioned.
Ten to twenty percent of agricultural land in Manipur has been utilized for other purposes during the last decade.
According to a report from the state agriculture department, the total agricultural area of the state (both in valley and hills) is around 1,95,000 hectares.
According to the president, as a result the arable land in the state has been reduced to 1,65,862 hectares.
Out of this 83,450 hectares at the shores of the Loktak lake cannot be utilised for cultivation since it is water logged in most parts with the inception of the Ethai barrage.
The loss suffered by farmers because of the Ethai Barrage is roughly Rs.400 crore a year.
In a paradox, unable to get sufficient power supply from the Loktak Project, the state government is spending around ` 138 crore per year to buy power from outside the state, he said.
Arable lands are also being utilised for construction of government offices, private schools and brick fields.
So, there is the need for the government to make a law to prevent conversion of agricultural land for other purposes, he demanded.