Crops fail
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 26 2018:
On account of the drought-like situation witnessed in the State when paddy plants were on the verge of flowering, around 7244 hectares of paddy cultivations have failed to bear paddy.
A survey carried out by Agriculture Department found that around 7244 hectares of paddy cultivations could not flower, conveyed a high-ranking official of the department.
Altogether 2001 hectares of paddy cultivations in Thoubal district spread across Kakching, Khangabok and Lilong have turned out fruitless.
As many as 3014 hectares of paddy cultivations have failed to flower in Imphal East district and they are spread across Takhel, Nongren, Oksu, Tellou, Chana and Nongada.
In Bishnupur district, 639 hectares of paddy cultivations spread at Haotak and Kumbi are not bearing any paddy.
The crop failure is even larger in Imphal West district where 4300 hectares of paddy cultivations spread across Heigrujam, Awang Khunou and Maklang could not flower.
On account of the extensive crop failure and repeated floods which ravaged vast paddy fields this Kharif season, the State's paddy production will decline by 25 per cent this year, said the official.
The total paddy production of the State last year was 6.71 lakh metric tonnes and this year's target is seven lakh metric tonnes.
However, 45601 hectares of paddy fields faced drought like situation when the paddy plants were on the verge of flowering.
Nonetheless, Agriculture Department has successfully contained the attack on paddy cultivations by Early Worm and Plant Hooper pests, the official added.