Rainfall deficit in state amid poppy menace
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 22 2023:
Manipur, along with Mizoram, is witnessing a significant deficit in monsoon rainfall due to the absence of rain-bearing clouds and monsoon troughs originating from the Bay of Bengal.
This scarcity of rainfall raised concern among the people that illegal cultivation of poppy and related mass deforestation in the hilly regions of Manipur are having serious environmental impact resulting in dry spell, erratic rainfall and rise in temperature among others.
These activities have disrupted the natural ecosystem and contributed to reduction in rain-bearing clouds, leading to deficient monsoon conditions.
While other north-eastern states, including Sikkim, are experiencing regular monsoon rainfall since June, Manipur's agricultural sector is suffering due to irregular distribution of rain coupled with the ongoing conflict restricting farmers from venturing out in the field and carrying out their monsoon agricultural activities.
Experts highlight that despite the northeastern region having received overall normal rainfall in the past few years according to the Long Period Average estimation, the uneven distribution has adversely affected crops.
Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood in the region.
In contrast to the areas where monsoon rain deficiency is prominent, the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Sikkim, and Tripura have received regular monsoon showers within the normal range of 19% deficient or excess rainfall, as categorized by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The IMD data underscored that Manipur is facing a 48 per cent rainfall deficiency, while Mizoram's shortage of rainfall is recorded at 28 per cent since June.
IMD officials have noted that there is still around 40 days left in the monsoon season, and the rainfall deficit in these states might be mitigated before the monsoon concludes in September.
Officials from the IMD explained that the absence of rain-bearing clouds, water vapour, and the monsoon trough originating from the Bay of Bengal have resulted in deficient rainfall across several northeastern states for specific weeks.
The usual pattern of the monsoon trough, accompanied by moisture influx from the Bay of Bengal, has shifted towards other regions of the country, causing heavy rainfall there.
The ramifications of this rainfall deficit extend to the agricultural sector, which forms the backbone of the region's economy.
The illegal cultivation of poppy and deforestation not only disrupts the natural balance but also affects soil quality, water retention, and overall ecosystem health.
This, in turn, hampers agricultural productivity and can lead to crop failures, impacting the livelihoods of the local population, they pointed out.
Moreover, the irregular rainfall patterns' further compound the challenges faced by the agricultural communities.
Manipur, historically prone to floods during the monsoon season, is now grappling with a different problem due to the deficit in rainfall.
These interconnected issues underscore the urgent need to address the environmental degradation caused by illegal activities and to implement sustainable land management practices to ensure the well-being of both the ecosystem and the people dependent on it.