MSF urges Govt to save Keirak Buffalo Farm
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 23 2023:
Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) has urged the state government to pay serious attention to the Keirak Buffalo Farm set up in Kakching district.
Addressing a press meet held at its office on Saturday, MF general secretary Rojit Tekcham informed that a team of volunteers visited the government-operated Keirak Buffalo Farm Ori April 20, as part of MSF's survey to conserve the fauna of the state.
As per the survey report, the Farm lacks requisite number of staff, a veterinary office, proper electric supply and quarters for the existing staff.
There was also an arson incident on the night of March 9-, which gutted the Farm's office, he recounted, while urging the government to investigate the matter and reveal the same to the public.
He continued that Keirak Buffalo Farm is spread around 24 hectares of land.
Around 15-20 houses have been recently built within the premises of the farm, and parts of the Kharungpat area, which is the grazing area of the buffaloes, have been converted into fish farms or used by some people as fishing grounds and also for washing fishing nets.
When the volunteers entered the fish farms, they were met with a barrage of verbal abuses, the general secretary added.
Urging the government authorities concerned to take serious note of the matter and drive away the land encroachers at the earliest, Rojit stressed the need for protecting the farm animals including close monitoring for the future, in addition to preservation of the ecosystem.
He further urged for focusing on multiplying the buffalo population and ensuring regular production of buffalo milk to help achieve the self-sustainability goal of the state.
Thus, he demanded the government to take serious note of the farm and address its shortcomings, including resolving the issues of land encroachers and the arson attack of March 9 .