Farmer bodies paint grim picture, demand alternative crops
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 28 2023:
Highlighting the looming possibility of a famine in Manipur, five farmer bodies have collectively urged the authorities to provide alternative crops in regions facing extreme shortage of water.
Notably, the five farmer organisations are All Manipur Progressive Farmers' Association (AMPFA), Loumee Shinmee Apun Lup (LOUSAL), Manipur, Loya Lam Loumi Lup (Lallup), Kangleipak Progressive Farmers Association and Irabot Foundation Manipur.
Speaking to media persons during a press conference held at Manipur Press Club today, Mutum Churamani, president, LOUSAL shared that the formation of the State Level and District Level Monitoring Committee and consequent strict monitoring of agricultural lands which were previously too dangerous to carry out any cultivation work known as 'red zone' has allowed farming activities in some of these areas.
He stated that roughly 40% of the 'red zone' in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts have executed agricultural activities with the help of security arrangements provided by the State Government.
However, as the majority of agricultural lands in Manipur remain uncultivated, there is a possibility of food scarcity hitting the State, he cautioned.
The LOUSAL president also pointed out that farmers should have a common voice and not be divided by barriers of race, ethnicity etc.
Thus he appealed against any kind of disturbances aimed at farmers working in their fields.
Kh Gopen, president, Irabot Foundation Manipur also spoke on the occasion and urged the concerned authorities to announce a special package for farmers reasoning that farmers will not be able to earn their livelihood otherwise.
Further citing the emergence of a drought-like situation in Manipur, he also appealed to the relevant department to announce that Manipur is facing a drought-like situation.
Continuing further with his speech, Gopen shared that on July 10, the monitoring committee was constituted with Commissioner RK Dinesh at the helm of affairs.
After the formation of this Committee, agricultural activities have begun in many fields, however, they have yet to hit the required percentage of areas under cultivation, he said.
Notably, he also pointed out that the farmer bodies had submitted a report stating that currently 10,000 hectares of agricultural land remain uncultivated due to intermittent attacks carried out by Kuki militants.
Speaking on the topic of poppy cultivation, Gopen maintained that deforestation of large swaths of hill areas for poppy cultivation has led to climate change.
This has in turn affected rainfall patterns and for the last 5/6 years, the State has received a meagre amount of rainfall, he said.
Stating that the situation has crossed all tolerable limits, he shared that a campaign will be launched to highlight the situation and seek the help of Indian farmers, Gopen concluded.