Dam repairing excuse amid push for food security
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: May 15, 2025 -

At a time when various schemes and projects are being implemented by the central and state governments to increase annual food grain productivity, poor irrigation network or operational inefficiency of the existing facilities in the state is anti-thesis to efforts of the food producers to support the burgeoning population.

Regardless of being a tiny landlocked state, Manipur is endowed with fertile soil suitable for growing various cash and food crops.

However, for the last many decades majority of the state's farmers have been relying on seasonal rainfall, subsequently limiting cultivation of paddy crop, the staple food crop, only once a year and leaving the otherwise fertile field fallow for the remaining months.

To address such outdated agricultural method, especially in the backdrop of the burgeoning population, the government initiated construction of multipurpose as well as low weir dams to boost multiple cropping systems, with some of the projects reaping fruit and others failing miserably to serve the purpose.

Among the handful of efficient projects in the state include the Thoubal multipurpose dam, which has been ensuring constant supply of irrigation water in large tract of agricultural field in Thoubal district and eastern region of Imphal East district through the manmade canals and natural water channels.

Thus, report of the multipurpose project halting water supply; which dam authorities attribute to repair work, at a time when the paddy plants are about to blossom, is not only akin to ruining the farmers but also anti-thesis to efforts by concerned stakeholders and the government authorities to realise the goal of food grain sufficiency.

While it is hoped that the dam authorities would fix the defective component of the multipurpose facility within short notice instead of tentative deadline of 15 days set to complete the repair work, it is desired that Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM), which conducted inspection of the left canal of the Thoubal Multipurpose Dam after receiving complaints of the dam ceasing supply of water for irrigation and household usages, and other civil society organisations make efforts for development of basic agricultural infrastructure, irrigation system in particular, instead of living under the impression that periodical distribution of seeds to the farmers will yield bumper harvest.

Along with monitoring activities of agriculture and horticulture departments, civil society organisations, which have of late started to demonstrate keenness in freeing the people of Manipur from the perennial dependency syndrome, should prevail upon the department authorities for comprehensive approach to agricultural reforms that blends welfare measures with market-driven mechanisms.

Though lack of irrigation facilities remains a major stumbling block, Manipur has the potential to thrive in the agriculture sector if the CSOs join hands with the departments concerned in empowering the farmers by adopting technology-driven farming methods, encouraging sustainable practices, and most importantly investing in development of basic infrastructure.

The state must also take advantage of the various programmes and projects launched by the centre for accelerating development in the agriculture sector, ensuring farmers get direct benefit from welfare schemes and sharing with farmers the latest information on crop selection, soil health, and water use to maximise resources in a sustainable way.