Left with no option, farmers plant paddy on dry fields
State govt to make known its decision on drought today
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 19 2012: With deficient rainfall playing havoc in their occupation, poor farmers in the state have started planting paddy on their dry fields with prayers to the rain God for blessing.

With monsoon rains remaining elusive and no hope of any irrigational facilities from the side of the Government, two female farmers in Sora area under Thoubal district were found planting paddy saplings on their completely dry and cracked fields.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, one of the female farmers lamented that the state government has been remaining silent and not bothered to take up measures to solve the problems being faced by the farmers.

Even if there is water in certain areas, there is no possibility of draining water to the paddy fields in the absence of water pumps.

Two women farmers planting paddy on their dried fields at Sora

Pointing out that deficient rainfall received in the state has resulted in drying up of paddy fields in Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East and West districts, the other female farmer observed that under such conditions, the attitude of the state government is indeed unfortunate.

The government seems to be against the interest of the farmers.

They (Govt officials) would realize their mistake only after the state faces famine next year, she added.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir has come up with the initiative of providing water pumps to the farmers of the state.

Under the initiative, three water pumps (two 8 Horse Power and one 5 Horse Power) each would be provided to the MLAs, who in turn would hand over the said water pumps to the farmers affected by insufficient rains.

The programme to distribute the water pumps was launched by Minister Abdul Nasir at Wangoi A/C today.

The pumps were handed over to MLA O Lukhoi.

For the first phase, 120 pumps of 8 Horse Power and 5 Horse Power have reportedly arrived at Imphal, and the process is on for acquiring more water pump sets, according to sources in Agriculture department.

On the other hand, considering shortage of rainfall this time, the state government is to take a final decision on the drought-like situation in the state during a cabinet meeting tomorrow.

The cabinet meeting would also discuss extension of Suspension of Operation (SoO) being carried out between Government of India, Manipur and various Kuki UG outfits, another source said.