Terraced cultivation in jeopardy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 20 2015 : With pre-monsoon rain yet to appear in the State, terraced cultivation practised widely in the hill districts of the State is likely to be abandoned this season.

Perhaps, on account of the global climate change, there is no pre-monsoon rainfall in Manipur till date.

As a result, peasants in hill districts have been rendered helpless to go for their traditional occupation of terraced cultivation.

There is no meteorological report about the likelihood of rainfall in the next couple of days, said ICAR Lamphel Principal Scientist (Agro-meteorology in-charge) Dr Irengbam Meghachandra.

Rainfall during winter season was lower than the average and it affected crop productivity of the State.

And now, people in the hill districts are facing serious difficulties because of shortage of water.

The situation is likely to grow worse in the coming days.

In case paddy seeds for terraced cultivation cannot be sown by the first week of April, peasants may be compelled to abandon paddy cultivation this season, Dr Meghachandra said.

Directorate of Environment Research Officer Dr T Brajakumar cautioned that the State must gear up for an adverse situation resulting from below-normal rainfall rate.

Taking recourse to traditional knowledge employed by Manipuri ancestors at such period of water scarcity would be helpful.

The State must also explore alternatives in case terraced cultivation cannot be done in the hill districts this season, Dr Brajakumar said.

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