Keibi Kumuda paddy fields failing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 08 2026: Farmers of Keibi Kumuda Loukon in Imphal East are staring at huge losses this season as acres of paddy fields are parched, facing acute shortage of water.

The paddy fields are facing acute shortage of water due to the failure of the Dolaithabi Barrage to supply irrigation water, said Kh Saratkumar, secretary of the Keibi Kumuda Village Development Committee.

Saratkumar said that the agricultural fields in the area used to get irrigation water from the Khamenlok River.

While the construction of the Dolaithabi Barrage and its canals had cut off this water supply from the Kha-menlok River, the farmers, nonetheless, had high hope that they would get adequate irrigation water from through the barrage, he said.

With the Dolaithabi barrage, however, failing to supply water, and its original source of irrigation cut off, the paddy fields in the region have become dependent on monsoon rain, Saratkumar said.

With no working irrigation canal, and facing scanty rainfall this year, paddy crops in most of the fields are failing.

While most of the farmers are now staring at huge losses, it is likely to put extra burden on tenant farmers, he added.

Saratkumar stressed that the tenant farmers, asking for a reduced Loushal (land owner's share of crops), have appealed the land owners to visit their respective fields and assess the situation.

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