Contingency plan ready: Agriculture minister
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 28 2022:
Agriculture minister Thongam Biswajit said that the department has plan to distribute seeds of winter crops to farmers, who face crop failure for any reason, as compensatory crop plan.
The minister was responding to a calling attention motion moved by JDU MLA Kh Joykisan in connection with the report of over 17,000 hectares of paddy farms facing drought like situation, mostly in Imphal East district during the ongoing state assembly session on Wednesday.
MLA Joykisan also expressed concern over the possibility of famine and enquired about any measures that have been taken up from the side of the department.
In response, minister Biswajit said that farmers were happy to receive adequate pre-monsoon rainfall.
However, some areas of the state are facing drought like situation and the government takes the matter seriously.
A meeting with the chief secretary in the chair had been held to assess the situation.
Officials from minor irrigation, CADA, horticulture & soil conservation and agriculture departments attended the meeting and it resolved to form district level committees to assess the situation.
On the other hand, farmers of the state used to face difficulties in finding market for their produces.
But the government has earmarked Rs 84 crore in the budget to procure paddy from the farmers and the initiative will help the farmers significantly.
There are plans to provide water pumps in areas facing drought like situation.
Even if there is crop failure, the government is all set to distribute seeds for winter crops as compensatory crop plan, the minister added.