AMPFA declares drought in state
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 21 2012:
With the state government reluctant to declare drought even though deficient rainfall has hit hard the state with most paddy fields leaving dried and cracked, All Manipur Progressive Farmers Association (AMPFA) has declared drought in Manipur.
Announcing this at a press conference in its office at Keishampat Junction here today, President of AMPFA Joy Nongmaithem stated that the decision to declare drought in Manipur against the reluctant attitude of the state government was taken in the interest of the suffering farmers of the state.
"For farmers, time is an important factor in planting paddy.
If paddy is not planted at the right time, it will never bear fruit", Joy observed, while lamenting that the state government has failed to declare drought despite the assurance given to the people earlier that drought would be declared if there is sufficient rainfall by July 15 .
Joy pointed out that total arable land in Manipur is just 2,10,500 hectares.
Out of this, only 96,000 hectares has been declared fit for cultivation by the government and the remaining 1,14,000 hectares is still not been able to cultivate due to lack of water.
These areas have poor irrigation facilities and even if the government provides water pumps, there would be no water sources to drain water to the fields.
He asserted that providing water pumps only to the farmers would not solve the present problem and fuel would be needed to operate these water pumps.
Moreover, the poor farmers have to borne the expenses for procuring water pipes to drain water.
How can Ministers coming on luxurious cars and inspecting the dried fields from the main road without even getting down from their cars know the exact situation?, he questioned.
The declaration of drought in Manipur by the Association is against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards the plight of the farmers and the Association would resort to various forms of agitation if the state government fails to provide alternative means to rescue the farmers from present situation, Joy added.