Solar Tech Farmers woe

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Solar Technology Lighting Up The Villages
And
A Farmer's Woe

By: Bachaspatimayum Sunzu *

SOLAR TECHNOLOGY LIGHTING UP THE VILLAGES
5TH June 2006

Human civilization has constantly driven technological advancement and it is almost fact that life on earth will be very different without these technologies. The internet, mobile phones, computer, TV has all become part and parcel of today's lifestyle to such an extent that men is enslaved to these technologies as he would be lost without these.

On the other side, technological development has progressively changed people's lives and even fostered environmentally friendly lifestyle. The solar charged home lighting system is definitely brightening up the lives of people who live in the interior villages where cabled electricity has not touched their lives.

Solar panels that sit on the roofs of houses are striking features of almost every interiors village in Manipur. For once, villagers are enjoying fruits of technological development and houses are no longer dark when the sun goes down.

The battery that stores the solar energy lights up the homes. Thangchillal, a villager of Sumtuh village in Thanlon Sub-division, Churachandpur district said, 'this technology is perfect for the hills. Now the kids can study at night and our homes are bright and happy.'

The TATA BP solar lighting system is the one of few welcome changes that has occurred in these interiors village in ages. Under a govt scheme, by depositing Rs 3500/- a village family can get a solar lights, along with a 24 plates batteries that can burn 6, 40 watts florescent tube lights.

Although villagers are lining up for these magical lights, more than 50 % of the villagers continue to live in the dark as they cannot afford to pay the deposit.

Nengboi a less fortunate villager said, 'only a few houses can afford these lights. Out of 62 houses in our village, only one-third of the houses have solar lamps. The rest do not as they do not have the money for the deposit. So darkness continues in the majority of the homes.'

Clearly, the solar lamps are brighten up some homes of the villages but it has also divided the villages into 'haves' and the 'have-nots'. This is alarming as community living, based on equality which is the basic tenets of these indigenous people has become the target however unintentional it maybe.

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A FARMER'S WOE
5TH June 2006

Even though it is known that the hills of Manipur have tremendous potential for horticulture, lack of proper planning and training on part of the State agriculture dept is failing to reap the harvest endowed by nature.

With lack of govt assistance and scientific farming training, farmers in the far flung areas are regretting they took to horticulture.

This is the story of an aging farmer who had taken to horticulture but is clueless on how to deal with infection to his lemon farm with govt assistance nowhere in sight.

V. Shoute who is 60 years old, planted 500 lemon plants, 200 oranges and 100 Mangoes, thinking that at his age horticulture would be an easier means of sustenance for his family. 'As I am old now and also physically weak, I thought it is best for me and my family to grow these fruits. Therefore I've taken to horticulture sincerely' said V. Shoute

To his utter surprise, even as the plants started bears fruits, diseases have struck. Immature fruits are falling with fungal infection occurring on the leaves and stems. Even if this was not enough, the whole plants have turning into dens for harmful insects.

With not help in sight, he is helpless and does not know what to do. Even the State Agricultural authorities, he complains, have never set foot on his village, located along the fringe border area of South Manipur.

The heartbroken V. Shoute said, 'I breaks my heart to see the leaves and the young fruits fall. I'm thinking of going to Churachandpur to report the occurrence to the agricultural authority there.'

From the look of things, the Lamupa Hanging Horticulture Farm is not going yield the returns that 60 year old Sumtuh farmer hoped for. In all likelihood Shoute and his family will have a difficult year ensuring food supply for the entire year with their dreams failing to be realized.

If state agriculture dept continues on be oblivious to woes of fringe farmers who have adopted horticulture as a livelihood, espousing horticulture for developing the hills will spell doom for the hill farmers.

Bachaspatimayum Sunzu contributes regularly to E-pao.net
The writer can be reached at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on June 08th, 2006

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