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The increasing ethnic violence in Manipur affected agriculture there, leading to fear of food shortages in the near future. (File: A.P.)
Farmers also fear that there could be a shortage of locally grown Maiti rice, leading to higher prices next year, if planting is not in full swing in all regions by the end of this month.
A senior official said on Wednesday that agriculture has been affected in Manipur because many farmers are unable to tend their fields due to ongoing ethnic violence, and if the situation does not improve, food production in the northeastern state will be affected.
Agriculture Department Director N Gujendru told PTI that farmers were unable to cultivate at least 5,127 hectares of farmland, resulting in a loss of 15,437.23 metric tons as of June 28.
If farmers are unable to plant rice in the monsoon season, the loss will increase by the end of July. However, the department has prepared fertilizers and seeds that can be harvested in a shorter period of time and require less water.
There are about 2-3 lakh farmers in the state who cultivate rice on 1.95 hectares of farmland.
He noted that Thoubal district has the highest yield per hectare in the state.
Farmers fear that there may be a shortage of locally grown “Maiti rice”, which will lead to higher prices next year, if cultivation is not in full swing in all regions by the end of this month.
While some farmers in the hinterland of Imphal tend their fields despite the fear of being shot by gunmen from the nearby hills, many refrain from farming in high season fearing for their lives.
“The incidents of firing on farmers from the militants’ hilltop hideouts have crippled rice cultivation in the vicinity of the Imphal Valley,” said Thukchom Milan, a farmer from Muedang Bokbe district of Bishnupur district, which witnessed many such incidents.
He said, “Some of us go to the fields with fear in our hearts, but we have to plant, otherwise we will go hungry for a whole year.”
The 40-year-old farmer said that lower food production this year will mean shortages and higher prices for Maiti rice next year.
“The sowing and planting of a variety of indigenous rice is done in June-July, while the harvest is done after five months at the end of November,” said Thabet Kumar, another farmer in Moirang Khono in the same district.
Adding to our problems is the lack of rain this year. Last year, heavy rains flooded the rice fields at the end of May, while this year the rains were less. The scorching sun dries up the land and makes farming difficult.”
Meitei Rice needs a lot of water to grow. It contains a high percentage of starch and carbohydrates.
Prime Minister N Biren Singh had earlier said that 2,000 state troops had been deployed in sensitive areas to patrol and provide security to farmers during farming.
(This story was not edited by the News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
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