Farmers declare de-facto drought
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 21 2012: Even as Ministerial teams zipped across the valley districts to assess severity of paddy plantation areas facing acute shortage of water due to erratic rainfall in the peak season, All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association has gone ahead and declared de-facto drought in Manipur.

The farmers' body made the declaration during a media briefing held this afternoon at its Keishampat Junction office.

Association advisor Joy Nongmaithem noting comments of Government officials that drought would be declared in case sufficient monsoon rain do not fall within July 15, asserted that with no sign of rain adequacy nearly two weeks after the expected day of sufficient shower in the State the situation merits official drought status.

With the Government still reluctant to declare manipur as drought-hit, the Association on its own is confirming the State to be drought-affected and thus decided to make the declaration, he affirmed and demanded that Government machinery swing into action with immediate effect to provide all possible assistance to the farmers.

Joy also informed that out of the State's total cultivable area of 2,10,500 hectares, paddy plantation is currently possible in about 96,000 hectares on account of availability of irrigation network or close proximity to water sources.

He also lamented that inspite of the farmers facing severe hardships to irrigate their fields the Government is unwilling to provide sufficient assistance to bail out the farmers.

The advisor further demanded that all possible measures to facilitate the farmers commence paddy plantation activities be taken up by the Government of Manipur within July 25 failing which the Association would launch intense agitation against the Government.

Terming as inadequate the Government's recent provision of water-pumps in certain pockets of the State, Joy said expecting the farmers to procure pipes and fuel to operate the pumps is not practicable as most of the State farmers are poor and ill-equipped.

Ridiculing the State Government's decision to slash price of fertilizer, he said without ensuring adequate water in the paddy fields fertilizer would be a useless commodity.

On the ministerial teams' situation assessment tour, he opined that the inspection would never be able to comprehend the situation in its entirety for there is bound to be vast difference between inspections from the comfort of cars and on-field assessment.

Expecting Ministers to cover paddy plantation areas in remote corners of the valley areas and far-flung hill districts during the one-day tour would be a far-fetched dream, opined the advisor who also suggested that the Agriculture Minister resigned on the ground of moral responsibility.

Joy also accused the State's Agriculture Department of failing to live upto the expectation of the farmers since its inception in 1945 and cited lack of transparency and scheme fund mismanagement as hallmarks of the Department.

The fact that size of the State's agricultural lands are diminishing through conversion for a building Government offices and non-agricultural activities is enough evidence that Agriculture Department is a failed entity of Manipur, he stated.

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