Crop failure turns farmlands into grazing field
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 16 2022:
In an unfortunate turn of event, paddy farms in Senjam Khunou Mamang, Makha and Awang Leikai areas have been converted into grazing held for local cattle as almost all of the paddy fields in the area experience crop failure due to scanty rainfall and absence of irrigation facility.
Taking serious note of the situation, Phumlou GP ward No.4 member Taorem Inaocha has urged farm owners to make some considerations in collecting Lousal and to refrain from withdrawing contract on account of crop failure.
Due to shortage of rainfall and lack of irrigation facility, most of the farmlands spread across 2000 hectares are experiencing drought situation with large cracks developing in the fields, thus resulting in crop failure.
Farmers are facing an extreme situation with all their investments getting lost.
Most of the farmers in the area are not the real owners of the farmlands as they are tenant farmers.
As there is no hope of any harvest, the farmers are letting their cattle graze in the devastated farmland instead, he said.
Inaocha urged farm owners to visit there and assess the condition themselves to understand the situation the farmers are facing.
It is okay for them to collect Lousal from farmers who could harvest their crops but they are requested to make some consideration for the farmers, who are facing crop failure, since the farmers are not only facing crop failure but also loss of investment and labour, he said.
He further appealed to the state government and its department concerned to provide seeds for winter crops to the farmers, who are facing crop failure, in order to compensate their loss, at least to some extent.
Due to lack of knowledge, the farmers did not subscribe to any insurance scheme for their crop and there is nothing they could do to compensate their loss, he added, while drawing attention of the government.