Farmers in dire straits, unable to sell paddy
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, September 12 2022: After the onset of Covid-19 pandemic in the state, farmers are in dire straits as they are unable to sell the paddy for the last two years.

Farmers usually sell their paddy/rice to sustain families.

However, stoppage of feast and boarding school due to pandemic in past two years of the pandemic and continuous distribution of free or subsidised ration rice under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalayan Yojana and other schemes drastically reduced the demand for local rice/ paddy in the state.

Around 1,000 phoubot of paddy harvested last year by a farmer cultivating 6 paris in Salungpham under Heirok A/C remain in the granary and even on the courtyard.

Two years before, a mon (40 kg) of paddy was sold at Rs 1200 and a kg of rice at Rs 47-Rs 50 .

However, a mon of paddy could not be sold at Rs 600-700 today.

Moreover, the cost of cultivating one Sangam of paddy has increased from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 due to increase in rates of hiring labour and price of fertilizer/pesticides.

Speaking in this regard, a farmer from Salungpham Mayai Leikai identified as Phuritsabam Pita informed that he has been harvesting 500 phoubot of paddy every year.

But as he and other farmers are unable to sell the paddy/rice in the last two years, many farmers are facing tremendous inconveniences.

Drawing the attention of the chief minister for arranging an alternative for the farmers so that they could sell their paddy stock, Pita appealed to the government to give awards to farmers who have the highest yield like those awards given to people who excel in their respective fields.

It will surely encourage the farmers in continuing their farming activities, he added.

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