Farmers' body takes stock of ravaged farmlands, seeks immediate help from Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Moirang, May 07 2024: The farmers may be compelled to look out for alternative means of livelihood if timely relief or aid are not provided to them in times of need especially when natural disasters strike causing wide-scale damage in vegetation' .

The above statement was made by Moirang Kendra Farmer Development Cooperative Society Ltd vice-president N Jadumani today while speaking on the sidelines of the visit to farms affected by the recent hailstorm on May 5 in Moirang Assembly Constituency.

A team of the above farmer's society visited severely affected farmlands under Phubala Gram Panchayat Ward number 10 in Moirang AC to take stock of the damage incurred.

Stressing that the recent hailstorm accompanied with heavy rains and thunder wreaked havoc in many farmlands in the district, Jadumani maintained that the wide-scale destruction has added more woes to the farmers who have been undergoing a tough phase by the prevailing conflict situation.

Due to the conflict, the farmers are not able to cultivate in paddy fields near the High Canal area, he added.

Considering the plights of the farmers amid these challenging times, he urged the Government and relevant authorities concerned to take up immediate compensation measures in the interest of the farmers community.

He maintained that farmers at periphery and remote regions are at the crossroads since the farming activities were hindered greatly due to the conflict and now the recent hailstorm has ravaged their vegetation causing immense loss to them.

Jadumani went on to state that though the Government assured to provide adequate compensation to the affected farmers, many of them have not received the due compensation yet.

He further raised concern that the farmers whose houses and properties that were destroyed in the recent storm may not be able to get the due relief package timely as the relevant process and survey will take time.

In view of the immense difficulties faced by the farmers, he urged the Government to expedite measures to provide relief and compensation to the affected farmers at the earliest.

Notably, the team of Moirang Kendra Farmer Development Co-operative Society Ltd visited severely affected farmlands in Phubala Gram Panchayat Ward numbers 7,8,9 and 10 and in Naranseina area where watermelon, cucumber, cabbage, papaya, corn etc were grown.

It is worth mentioning that various crops grown by around 60 farmers in 30 paris of land in Sunusiphai region were destroyed by the storm of May 5 .

A farmer from Naranseina while narrating the ordeal of the farmers, said that most of the farmers have borrowed money for farming purposes with the hope that they will be able to repay the same from the profit generated through the sale of crops.

But in view of the un-precedented natural calamity and circumstances, their plan will remain a far cry as they have been left with no options and they will continue to stay indebted, she lamented.

Therefore, she urged the Government to provide immediate relief to the affected farmers as they need urgent help.

She also expressed fear that they may be deprived of the compensation while following the lengthy process of claiming the compensation announced by the Government.

If farmers' issues are not addressed at the appropriate time, the Government's vision for a self-reliant State in terms of food production can never be fulfilled, she remarked.

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