Farmers assured urea @ Rs 420
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 23 2011: Even though seasonal rainfall had led to devastation of several food crop plantation areas in some of the valley districts slashing of fertilizer price, as announced by the Agriculture Minister today, will provide a sense of relief to the farming community who have been decrying shortage of fertilizers and availability of the same at exorbitant rate.

Fertiliser would be distributed and made available to the farmers at Rs 420 per bag from 4 pm today, Agriculture Minister Ph Parijat announced while speaking as chief guest of the prize distribution ceremony of Rice Crop competition for the year 2010-2011 at the conference hall of Directorate of Agriculture, Sanjenthong here.

The Minister noted that access to adequate fertiliser has always been a problem faced by the farmers in Manipur.

He pointed out that about 36,000 metric tonne of fertiliser is required in the State annually and for the current year, around 13,000 metric tonne has arrived so far.

Appreciating efforts of the farmers, the Minister said that now-a-days, 43.5 Phoubot of rice per Sangam could be produced in Manipur.

Among the districts, Imphal East has emerged as the highest rice producing district with a yield of 34.5 to 35 Phoubot per Sangam.

This is inspite of lack of water and irrigation facilities, the Minister noted.

Commissioner (Agriculture) Letkhogin Haokip, who attended the function as guest of honour, observed that since there is no industry worth its name in Manipur, agriculture has remained the main occupation of the people.

So, if we extend support and go together with the farmers, Manipur can become a developed State within five years.

In his presidential address, Director of Agriculture Palandro Singh encouraged the farmers to compete among themselves for better understanding and awareness on the method and technique to be adopted for enhancing production.

He also urged the farmers to join Crop Insurance.

In the Rice Crop competition for 2010-2011, three farmers selected from the State level competition and three each from the nine districts have been awarded.

The first prize of the State level competition was awarded to Wairokpam Ingocha Singh of Khoirom Mathak Leikai, Thoubal, who produced 10,519.17 kgs of Sana Phou per hectare.

He was presented a power tiller and a citation.

Wairokpam Kumar Singh of the same family, who produced 9,754.16 kgs Sanaphou per hectare, was awarded second prize of a Power Reaper and citation.

The third prize of the State level competition was given to Puyam Gunamani Singh of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai, Imphal East along with presentation of one water pump set and a citation for producing 9,743.54 kgs RC-Mani Phou-7 per hectare.

Each of the first prize winners of the district level competitions were given Rs 30,000 with citation, the second prize winners Rs 25,000 with citation and Rs 20,000 with citation to the third prize winners.

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