CFW holds meet on monsoon cultivation amid crisis
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 11 2024: COCOMI Farmers' Wing (CFW) organised a discussion session on 'Monsoon Cultivation in Crisis Affected Areas' at Manipur Press Club, here, Tuesday wherein COCOMI coordinator Th Somorendro, CFW convenor K Thoiba, and All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) president Puyam Tomcha, among others emphasised the need for concerted efforts to ensure a secured environment for agricultural activities in crisis-affected areas.

During the session, K Thoiba highlighted the challenges faced by residents of 62 villages impacted by the ongoing crisis that began on May 3 last year.

The discussion aimed to gather these residents, primarily farmers, to deliberate on their predicament, explore viable solutions, and urge the government to undertake measures to ensure farmers can safely return to their fields.

Monsoon cultivation activities generally need to be completed by July 11, whereas failure to do so by July 15 would result in the declaration of crop failure as per government policy, he said while confiding that in view of the challenging situation over 200 COCOMI volunteers are prepared to assist the government in ensuring normal agricultural activities.

However, he expressed concern over Chin-Kuki narco-terrorists not sparing even farmers and working class ever since the violence broke out.

Last year, more than 10,000 hectares of farmland remained uncultivated due to security concerns and threats to farmers' lives.

The monsoon cultivation season has arrived again, but the threat posed by Kuki militants holed up in foothill bunkers continues to deter farmers from tending to their field, the CFW pointed out.

Security forces deployed at the foothills have also restricted farmers from entering their farmlands, exacerbating the situation.

Despite discussions by the agriculture department on May 24 last year and recently this year, and the formation of a state monitoring committee by the CFW with the objective to ensure a secure environment for farming has not been achieved, Thoiba said.

He also criticised the government for its apparent neglect of this critical issue, citing lack of visible initiatives to secure farmlands and protect farmers from armed militants.

The discussion session concluded with adoption of several key resolutions.

Firstly, formation of a Coordination Committee of farmers from affected villages under the aegis of CFW was agreed upon.

This Coordination Committee is to collaborate with state and district level monitoring committees.

Additionally, the session resolved to request the relevant departments for necessary inputs and facilities such as irrigation, machinery, seeds, and fertilisers.

The participants also resolved to appeal to the government for alternative arrangements for farmlands where cultivation is not possible due to security reasons.

To formalise these concerns and requests, memorandum will be submitted to the Governor, chief minister, agriculture minister, security advisor, and departments concerned.

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