Imphal, November 06 2008: Peeved with the failure of the State Agriculture Department to make Rabi crop seeds available, farmers have decided to launch various forms of agitation from November 10 .

Speaking to reporters at Manipur Press Club here today, secretary of the Nongchup Imphal Loumi-Shinmi Chaokhat Thourang Lup Thoiba Konthoujam said there is no initiative from the State Government and the Department of Agriculture to provide Rabi crop seeds to farmers till date.

With the Rabi season already on, farmers are facing severe difficulties due to the failure of the Government to provide seeds.

Noting the great responsibility of farmers in the economic development of a State, Thoiba stressed on the importance of providing crop seeds to farmers in time.

He also blamed the failure of Agriculture Department in discharging its duties for the sick economy of Manipur.

Unlike other States, Manipur has neither a market policy nor stock policy.

This is causing much difficulties to the farmers of the State, Thoiba asserted.

Claiming that farmers serve as the backbone of the State's economy, he decried the failure of the Government to take up any substantive welfare programme for the farmers.

Rather, farmers are being subjugated, he alleged while adding that the farmers' body has been urging upon the authority concerned to provide adequate seeds for different seasons to farmers in time since many years back.

Disclosing their decision to launch various sorts of agitation for their demand of Rabi crop seeds, the secretary sought cooperation from the people.

Taking part in the press meet, president of the United Development Council, Bishnupur, Philem Basanta cautioned that unavailability of Rabi crops seeds just after the recent issue of fertilizer unavailability may snowballed into a major issue.

Highlighting such possibility, he further sought immediate attention of the authority concerned so that adequate Rabi crop seeds are made available to farmers at the earliest.

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