Seeds stranded
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21 2020:
Kharif crops seeds for sowing in the State have already been ordered from Gujarat and Kolkata, but the same are stranded on the route due to the ongoing Nationwide lockdown.
The seeds will be distributed to the farmer's community once it reached Manipur, said Director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, N Joymati.
Speaking to this reporter at the office of Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation at Sanjenthong, N Joymati continued that seeds of tomato, cucumber and pepper have already been ordered from Gujarat and Kolkata, but the seeds have not reached yet, owing to the imposition of lockdown.
The seeds will be distributed to select 575 farmers once it reached Manipur, she said conveying that the beneficiary farmers selected by the department are of weaker financial background.
The Kharif crops are sown normally in April and May and can be harvested after two-three months, however, as those fruits bearing plants are brought via plane, they will be sowed in May or June, she added.
Saying that the lockdown, though necessary, has hit the farmers community hard, she expressed desire for the Government to continue to provide all possible help to the farmers to relieve their grievances to some extent.