₹388 crore loss reported as 9619 ha farmlands remain inaccessible: Bodies
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 14 2023:
Around 9619 pari (hectares) of farmlands located in the red zone and inaccessible for farming due to the on going conflict, cannot be cultivated, and the farming sector is expecting a total loss of Rs 388,2693,733, Loumi Sinmi Apunba Lup (LOUSAL) president Mutum Churamani has stated.
Addressing a joint press meet held with Loyalakpam Apunba Loumi Lup, Kangleipak Progressive Farmers' Association and Irabat Foundation Manipur at Manipur Press Club here on Monday; Churamani said that the five farmer bodies conducted a survey and collected data to analyse how the conflict has affected the agriculture, horticulture, veterinary, fishery and sericulture sectors in the valley districts.
As per the survey report, around 9619 hectares of farmland cannot be cultivated as the farmlands remain inaccessible due to the conflict, which would reduce the production yield by around 1,06,958.40 MT and cause losses amounting to Rs 2,67,39,61,750.Most of the affected areas are in Bishnupur district without around 5288 ha of farmlands, followed by Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Kakching districts.
On top of this, owing to irregular rainfall, around 31,742 hectare of farmlands are facing drought.
Thus, he urged the government to provide some kind of monetary support to the farmers who cannot farm the lands and are at risk of starvation.
With regard to horticulture, losses amounting to Rs 50,80,08,23 have been reported, with the highest loss reported from veterinary and animal husbandry sector with a loss (loss of livestock/poultry/pig and other animals) amounting to Rs 36,64,81,775, fishery at Rs 24,06,45,664 and sericulture at Rs 9,35,96,314, he conveyed.
Churamani continued that while the relevant departments have been providing assistance in view of the prevailing situation, the survey was conducted to cover almost all the affected farmers so as to facilitate the departments concerned in requesting appropriate packages from the Ministry as compensation.
Amid this, the veterinary and animal husbandry department assured to put a list for the beneficiaries of the compensation.
In this regard, it would be better to provide a format for the convenience of the farmers staying at relief camps and affected villages.
For this, the farmer bodies will extend their cooperation, he stated.
Churamani then suggested to the departments concerned to collect data of the affected farmlands and take up measures for alternative crops, so as to prevent any possibility of any famine by next year.