Agriculture: State farmers elated with bumper harvest this year
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 21 2020: Receiving good harvest this year, farmers are extremely happy this time.

The Sangai Express while paying a visit to Wakha Loukol at the foothill of Nongmaiching Hill came across completion of nearly 70 percent of paddy harvesting in the area while some people were on the field carrying on the harvesting exercises.

While some were threshing through machines, some were carrying out the works manually.

Though farmers are happy reaping their harvests, the activity had its ill impact on connecting and nearby roads with tractors and trucks used for transporting the harvest pulling up muds from the field causing a wide range of inconveniences to other commuters.

It would be good if the vehicles used in transporting the harvest took a little care and cleaned muds stuck to the tyres before coming up on roads.

This reporter also drew the attention of concerned DC to take up measures to ensure such inconveniences are curbed.

While talking to the Sangai Express, Kshetrimayum Khamba from Top Khongnangkhong narrated that he received only 12 to 13 foubots per sangam last year due to scanty rainfall.

This year, however, with the State receiving adequate amounts of rainfall, has a different and favouring outcome, said the elated 55 year old farmer.

He is carrying out rice cultivation over 4 sangams and yield this time ranges from 40 to 45 foubots per sangam, he said while thanking the almighty for the good yield.

Agriculture has been easy for the farmers earlier when there was adequate rainfall marked by stream sound from Lokchao of Nongmaiching hill, however no such sound is heard in recent years and it had affected agriculture in the region seriously, he said.

Since there is no dam or proper irrigation facility to control the flow of rain water, farmers have to largely rely on rainfall the fields receive annually, he said.

Kabho, a Meitei Pangal farmer from Top Kshetri Awang Leikai, told the Sangai Express that only 15 or 14 foubots were reaped from each sangam last year owing to the poor rainfall.

The production last year fell short to meet their requirements, he continued while adding that production this year has however risen significantly nearly upto 38 foubots per sangam.

While speaking to The Sangai Express, Director of the State Agriculture Department, Laltanpuii Vanchhong said that the State had to face a rough time last year due to inadequate and untimely rainfall leaving many arable areas deserted and uncultivable.

Only 189.87 hectares of land was arable last year and production was only 445.55 metric tons with 1.35 metric ton of yield per hectare but the situation improve significantly as 286 hectares of land were listed as arable in a project report prepared by and the projected yield is 704.55 metric tons.

The expected yield is 2.41 metric ton per hectare this time, the Director continued.

The Department is yet to receive official reports from District Agriculture Officers (DAOs) regarding the production, she said while adding that reports are likely to be received soon.

The favourable rainfall and timely distribution of required fertilizers had greatly helped farmers a good and progressive harvest this year, she continued.

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