CAU Imphal reaches out to farmers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 04 2023: Even as farmers across the State are facing an imminent loss of crops due to shortage of rain and the present conflict between Meiteis and Kukis, Central Agricultural University (CAU) Imphal has launched a "Farmers' Field Day cum Training Programme" that aims to boost agricultural productivity and encourage farmers to adopt high yield winter crops.

The programme was organised today at Lamboikhul under Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency.

CAU experts interacted with the farmers of the area and provided them with the know-how of cultivating winter crops.

The Directorate of Research, CAU, Imphal organised the programme under the sponsorship of AICRP on Seed (Crops), MAU, UP.

CAU Imphal reaches out to farmers

Directorate of Research, CAU Imphal Director Professor LM Garnayak, Deputy Director Dr T Shantibala, AICRP on Seed (Crops), CAU, Imphal Nodal Officer Dr T Robindro spoke as resource persons on "Quality seed production of Agricultural crops and its importance" .

Shortage of irrigation water and the present conflict have left thousands of hectares of fields wasted and idle this year.

Director Garnayak said after the paddy season, farmers may adopt to cultivate mustard oil in their fields successfully to generate substantial income.

He said CAU aims to improve the agriculture sector in Manipur and it will assist farmers adopt the most effective tools of agriculture.

CAU officials distributed machinery including sprayers and winter crop seeds to farmers.

Notably, more than 300 Paris of fields have been affected in Khundrakpam Assembly Constituency alone due to shortage of rain and the present conflict between communities.

While a major portion of the fields have been made no man's land amid the conflict with security forces denying entry to farmers, the remaining fields have been affected by shortage of monsoon rain.

Agricultural fields under Ikou, Yengkhuman, Dolaithabi, Nongshum, Chanung and Uyumpok have been made buffer zones by security forces manning the border area between settlements of Meiteis and Kukis.

Fields under Keibi and Lamboikhul have been affected by scanty rainfall.

Nongshum Development Committee executive member Sanasam Tiken (50) said the farmers of Nongshum are unable to properly man their fields till today due to fear of being attacked.

Hundreds of acres of paddy fields have been wasted.

The farmers are staring at a major loss.

They need compensation from the Government, he said.

The farmers want the Government to allow the farmers to enter their fields and till the land for cultivating winter crops.

Otherwise, the farmers will not be able to earn any income to support and sustain their families, he added.

Irabot Foundation Manipur president Gopen Luwang said about 10,000 hectares of fields have been wasted or are lying idle due to shortage of rain and the conflict.

More than 2000 hectares of fields have been wasted at Imphal East.

Bishnupur district has been affected the worst by the conflict, he said.

The State should consider the situation seriously and farmers should be compensated well, he said.