₹222 Cr released for state farmers; 12K ha lie fallow
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 19 2025: The central government has released over Rs 222 crore as disaster relief funds to address the state's agricultural crisis, which has left nearly 12,000 hectares of farmland unutilised and affected more than 9,000 farmers, according to official data presented in the Lok Sabha.

The figures were revealed in response to a question raised Tuesday by Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, who enquired about the extent of the farming crisis in the state.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare minister Ramnath Thakur disclosed that 11,967.4 hectares of agricultural farmland across 11 districts have been affected by violence, with the crisis resulting in significant loss in food-grain production estimated at 27,269 metric tonnes.

The most severely impacted district is Kangpokpi, where 3,822 hectares of farmland remain unused, followed by Churachandpur with 2,932 hectares affected.

Other badly hit areas include Bishnupur (2,280 hectares), Imphal East (1,562.88 hectares), and Imphal West (562.52 hectares).

The human toll has been equally severe, with the state government reporting 9,182 affected farmers and 11 farmer casualties, including eight injuries and three deaths.

The crisis has prompted the central government to provide financial assistance through disaster relief funds.

Under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), allocations have been made for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 periods.

For 2024-25, Rs 40 crore was allocated under SDRF as Central share, with Rs 50 crore released.

An additional Rs 12.15 crore has been released from NDRF.

For 2025-26, SDRF allocation for central share stands at Rs 40.80 crore, with Rs 29.20 crore already released and Rs 131.08 crore released from NDRF as of July 31, 2025.The funding follows established procedures where the central government contributes 90 per cent and state governments bear 10 per cent for north-eastern and Himalayan states under SDRF, whilst NDRF funding comes entirely from the central government.

However, Dr Bimol expressed concern over the government's response on his Facebook page.

He criticised the inconsistency in how "state subject" is applied, noting that while education-related teacher recruitment questions are dismissed as state subjects, agricultural matters are being addressed despite also being state subjects.

"The way institutions in this country function today is, to say the least, alarming!" Bimol wrote, calling the approach problematic.

The MP also questioned the nature of the fund allocation, urging economists and experts to investigate whether the NDRF and SDRF allocations are exclusively for agriculture-related purposes and whether they match the extent of damage reported.

He specifically called for an assessment of what assistance has been provided to the three deceased farmers and their families, as well as the injured farmers.

The agricultural devastation reflects the broader impact of ethnic violence that has ravaged the state since May 2023.Once-thriving paddy fields that were cultivated by both Kuki and Meetei farmers working side by side now lie abandoned, serving as silent witnesses to the deep scars left by the prolonged conflict.

The extended conflict has forced farmers to abandon their lands, deprived them of access to their fields, and interrupted crucial farming cycles, transforming fertile land that once thrived into barren fields that exacerbate an agrarian crisis endangering countless rural families.

The violence has claimed over 250 lives and displaced 60,000 people, with over 4,700 houses burnt and hundreds of religious structures vandalised.

UN experts have reported that the conflict has resulted in the destruction of farmland, loss of crops, and widespread loss of livelihood across affected communities.

Manipur has been experiencing ethnic violence since May 2023, which has displaced thousands and disrupted normal life across the state.

The agricultural sector's devastation represents a significant blow to the state's economy, where farming forms the backbone of rural livelihoods.

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