Farmers urged to adopt multi-cropping to meet demand
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 01 2022: As part of the ongoing endeavour for a self-sustainable state, United Committee Manipur (UCM) in association with the state's Agriculture Department and Horticulture Department organised a one-day Farmers' Training Programme at Lamlongei Hiyang Khongnung Lairembi Shanglen on Thursday.

The programme was attended by Phayeng GP ex-pradhan Angom Gojendro as chief guest and UCM president Joychandra Konthoujam as president while social activist Arambam Karamjit Singh, Heirangkhongnung Lairembi Selungba Moirangthem Heramani and UCM Lamsang unit chairman Laishram Victoria were members on the dais.

Dr RK Roshan (KVK Tamenglong) and Dr Rabi Kolom (head in-charge KVK Tamenglong) were present as resource persons.

Speaking on the occasion, UCM secretary general Ngangom Deba Meitei pointed out that the only way for Manipur to become a self-sustainable society is for the farmers to cultivate a collective work culture and produce enough yield to meet the growing demands of the state.

The government departments concerned also need to come up with a long-term policy and pay special attention to farmers.

He suggested to the farmers to engage in multi-cropping to meet the demands.

The people of Manipur are independent individuals and as such, they should ensure that this independent and self-sustainability attitude is instilled among the young generation, through production and promotion of indigenous products.

Manipur is bound to develop once its export level can overcome the import level, he said.

In his speech, UCM president Joy Konthoujam said that owing to erratic rainfall this year, paddy harvest has been quite low putting the farmers in difficult conditions.

To alleviate the suffering of the farmers, the government announced to distribute winter seeds for free, which the government should put into action immediately.

He continued that it would be difficult to make all paddy fields "green" without proper irrigation facilities, which the government needs to look into.

As the government has repaired the pump and electric transformer of Loktak Irrigation project, it is now time to restart the Loktak Lift Irrigation (LL1) and divert the water through Imphal main canal, Imphal low canal and the canals in Bishnupur district to provide water to the paddy fields so as to cultivate winter crops and help the state become self-sustain able, he added.

As part of the programme, UCM distributed winter crop seeds to the farmers.

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