Farmers on hunger strike to protest urea shortage
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 07 2021:
In protest against the government's inability of providing adequate fertilizer particularly urea despite repeated assurances, aggrieved farmers staged a unified rally at Kumbi in Bishnupur district and chanted the slogan 'Eshing Piyu, Haar Piyu, Chak Pige' (give water, urea, will provide food) and later launched a hunger strike stir, which they say will go on till getting the required urea.
Kumbi Urban Development Committee, Kumbi Apunba Loumee Sinmi Lup and Kumbi unit of Bharatiya Kishan Sangh jointly staged the farmers' rally at Kumbi Setupur and its surrounding areas on Saturday in protest against the inability of government to provide urea fertilizer in time.
During the rally, the agitated farmers raised slogans to denounce indifferent attitude of the government and failure of the agriculture minister to address grievances of the food producers.
After the rally, seven farmers launched a hunger strike at Kumbi Setupur Mayai Leikai waiting shed and it is likely to continue till getting the required urea.
Regarding the stir, Kumbi Urban Development Committee president N Prakash Meitei noted that the government of Manipur repeatedly asserted that there is enough urea and assured of providing the same to farmers through media but it has been unable to do so till date.
Farmers have set August 3 as the ultimatum for providing urea but the government has failed, he said and asked as to why government is unable to provide urea to farmers when it is needed the most.
He also asked as to why government is unable to prepare in time to stock urea in the state which has no second crop other than paddy.
Regarding the rally and hunger strike, Kumbi Apunba Loumee Sinmi Lup secretary W Sanjit said that it is heart-breaking for a farmer that government is unable to provide urea when it is needed the most.
Questioning government's attitude, Sanjit said that farmers are compelled to think whether government would be able to ensure doubling farmers' income or zero income.
Not providing fertilizer to farmers in time is a disgrace to the farmers, he added.
A woman farmer who took part in the rally pointed out that majority of paddy fields in Kumbi were unable to plough due to scanty rainfall and absence of viable irrigation network.
When rain comes suddenly in the past two days, hope of the farmers revived and they tried to get urea but government has let them down, she said, adding that farmers would suffer more if government fails to provide urea in time.
Meanwhile, DC Bishnupur Krishnakumar issued a notification Saturday informing that urea fertilizer for farmers of Thanga and Kumbi will be distributed on August 9.The notice also informed that farmers of Thanga could procure urea from the warehouse located nearby DAO Bishnupur office from 10am till 3pm while distribution for Kumbi will be made at Kumbi bazar from 10am till 4pm.It also said that SDO Moirang and district agriculture officer will shoulder main responsibility for urea distribution.
Comment
