State to be declared drought hit
Minister assures state agriculture policy soon
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 07 2012: If rain continues to play hide and seek till July 15, the government of Manipur is likely to declare the state drought hit.

Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir said that June-July is the period when there is normally adequate rainfall in Manipur for the farmers to take up their cultivation works in full-swing.

But this time, the quantity of rain has been very less that if there is no adequate rainfall till July 15, the Chief Minister would be consulted for declaring drought in the state.

Speaking at a function organised by Department of Agriculture to distribute seeds and other agricultural items to the farmers under National Food Security Mission at the Toubungkhok residence of Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai today, Minister Nasir observed that absence of an agriculture policy in Manipur is very unfortunate.

So, after the end of the ongoing Assembly session, efforts would be made for finalization of an agriculture policy of the state in consultation with the Chief Minister.

Seeking the co-operation of the farmers in ensuring success of the developmental schemes being taken up by his department, Minister Nasir said that suggestions from the farmers on the different schemes being taken up for their welfare would always be welcomed. The State Government would also be taking a definite on ensuring availability of fertilizers to the farmers, with or without subsidy, very soon, the Minister assured. Delivering the presidential address, Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai expressed serious concern over shrinking of agricultural land in Manipur and stressed on the need for protecting the existing arable land so as to make ourselves self-reliant in food production. Farmers in the state should also try to make proper use of the seeds and other farm equipments being provided under the National Food Security Mission, 2020, she urged. The Minister went on to inform that in view of failure of rainfall, necessary measures are being arranged for drawing water from Nambul river to irrigate paddy fields in Patsoi Assembly Constituency.

So, the farmers should have no apprehension over failure of rainfall because alternative arrangement would always been put in place to tide over the situation. Steps would also be taken up for harnessing solar power to draw water for irrigational purposes, she assured. Nonetheless, the Minister noted that interest among the farmers in Manipur is waning of late as the price of rice imported from outside is becoming cheaper than the rice produced here and the resultant emergence of many small scale industries is worrisome. Commissioner of Agriculture Letkhogin Haokip, who was also present at the occasion, informed that National Food Security Mission, 2020 has been launched for the first time in North East in Manipur as experimental basis at Bishnupur, Thoubal, Imphal East and Imphal West districts.

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