Agri Minister assures farmers all possible aid
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 16 2019: Conveying that the State's Agriculture Department has taken up paddy community nurseries in 21 hectares in the four valley districts, Agriculture Minister V Hangkhanlian asserted that seedlings grown in the community nurseries will be distributed to farmers in need.

The Minister has also assured that tenant farmers will be covered in the distribution of fertilizers at subsidized rate on submission of chitta numbers of their tenant paddy fields and Aadhaar number.

Briefing media persons on the sidelines of interface meetings between the Agriculture Minister and farmers at Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts which were organized today at the respective District Agriculture Offices, Hangkhanlian stated that the State Government is in the process of procuring 100 more water pumps for distribution to farmers after identifying the places where they are needed most.

While pointing out that there is possibility for supplying water to paddy fields by pumping up water from rivers and other water bodies, he admitted that the non-functioning of most RLIs is a major hindrance in coping with the prevailing situation.

Hangkhanlian then assured that strong pressure will be exerted on higher authorities and departments concerned to improve RLIs in the State adding that RLIs are under the purview of Minor Irrigation Department and Water Resource Department.

Citing the reason for giving subsidised fertilizers only to farmers holding pattas, Hangkhanlian said that this measure is aimed at curtailing mismanagement of fertilizers and is in line with the Central authority's instruction.

Nonetheless, he assured that every genuine farmer will be covered by the said Government's initiative by allowing tenant farmers to submit chitta numbers of their tenant paddy field and Aadhaar cards.

He maintained that there are 3,50,000 bags of fertilizers in buffer stock at present while asking farmers not to worry about fertilizers.

Asserting that the State Government has been working in line with the Central Government's target of doubling farmers' income by 2020, the Minister reassured that every possible help will be given to farmers in this regard.

He also said that due sanction has been made for repairing the collapsed section of Khuga Dam canal that subsequently led to stoppage of water supply to some villages.

During the interface meet, many farmers highlighted the difficulties faced by them regarding cultivation of paddy.

Many farmers noted that they cannot take up any agricultural activities in their paddy fields, while many others informed that scarcity of water for irrigation has also affected horticulture and fish farming apart from paddy cultivation.

Some farmers claimed that they somehow managed to plant paddy which have now grown to a few inches but they also expressed strong apprehension that paddy plants thus grown with extra labour and investment may die if there is no adequate rainfall and necessary Government intervention.

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