Agriculture in Manipur has been badly affected. In fact, farmers are unable to work in their fields due to caste violence in the state and if the situation does not improve, food production in the northeastern state will be affected. Because of this, it may be difficult for people to get bread on June 2.
Agriculture department director N Gojandro said farmers are scared to do farming because of the riots. About 5,127 hectares of agricultural land remained uncultivated, resulting in a loss of 15,437.23 metric tonnes till June 28. Tell me, about two to three lakh farmers in the state cultivate paddy on 1.95 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Thoubal district has the highest yield per hectare in the state.
Gojandro said that if farmers are unable to cultivate paddy this monsoon season, the losses will increase further by the end of July. He said that the Agriculture Department is making every possible effort. That’s why the department has prepared such fertilizers and seeds, which can be harvested in less time and require less water.
There will be shortage of meitei rice
Agriculture official said farmers are worried that if cultivation is not in full swing in all regions by the end of this month, there could be a shortage of locally grown ‘meitei rice’, leading to higher prices next year . He said that while some farmers are tending their fields on the outskirts of Imphal without fear, many are avoiding farming during the peak season fearing for their lives.
Farmers told sorrow
Thokchom Milan, a farmer from Moidangpokpi area of Bishnupur district, said incidents of militants firing on farmers have made paddy cultivation in the Imphal Valley barren. Some people go to the fields despite being afraid. He said that if we do not do farming, we will have to starve for the whole year.
Sabit Kumar, another farmer from Moirang Khunau, said sowing and cultivating the indigenous variety of rice is done in June and July, while harvesting is done five months later, in late November. He said that first the violence, then this year the lack of rain has increased our problems. Paddy fields were flooded due to heavy rains in late May last year, while this year there has been less rainfall. The scorching sun dries up the land, making farming difficult
Let me tell you, ‘Meitei Rice’ requires a lot of water for cultivation. It contains high amounts of starch and carbohydrates. At the same time, Chief Minister N Biren Singh had earlier said that 2,000 state forces have been deployed in sensitive areas for the protection of farmers so that they do not face any problem in farming.
