CFW seeks security, aid for crisis-hit farmers
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 12 2025: Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) Farmers' Wing (CFW) on Thursday organised a one-day discussion session at Manipur Press Club, here, to deliberate on the hardships faced by farmers who have been unable to access or utilise their farmlands since the outbreak of the Kuki-Meetei conflict on May 3, 2023.During the discussion, resolutions were adopted to appeal to the government to ensure adequate security arrangements in vulnerable farmland areas so that the affected farmers can resume agricultural activities, pursue the matter with the government for a swift and concrete solution, approach relevant departments to provide necessary assistance to the affected farmers, form a sub-committee comprising crisis-affected farmers to collaborate with CFW in addressing the ongoing challenges, and CFW and affected farmers to jointly press the government to: release compensation for farmlands affected in 2024, for which farmers have already submitted applications through the government portal.

In his address, CFW convenor AD Elangbam said that Kharif season has already arrived but many farmers remain unable to access their farmlands.

He pointed out that while security forces have restricted farming activities in certain areas, armed threats and disturbances from Kuki narco-terrorists continue to pose dangers to farmers attempting to work in their fields.

The convenor also said the State Level Monitoring Committee had recently discussed the issue and assured adequate security arrangement.

The same assurance was brought up during Thursday's discussion.

Despite the onset of the Kharif season, the government has yet to release any form of support or compensation for the affected farmlands in 2024, he lamented, while noting that farmers have been enduring severe hardships for two years since the crisis erupted, leading to an acute scarcity of food.

He urged the authorities to come up with long-term solutions to address the crisis.

CFW co-convenors K Thoiba, L Kiran and Irabot Meitei attended the event as presidium members.

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