Our Correspondent
Imphal, Oct. 10: The farmers’ community under the aegis of All Manipur Progressive Farmers’ Association (AMPFA) on Wednesday staged sit-in protest demanding compensation in view of the drought like situation in the state, in Imphal.
The functionaries of AMPFA said that after facing large scale destruction of standing crops due to flood in last year, the farmers’ are again facing drought like situation due to various factors including deficit rainfall.
They felt that the paddy production in Manipur is likely to decline this year as most of the paddy fields in the valley districts are reeling under scarcity of water. Unavailability of the adequate water this particular season will lower the yield, they said. There are also similar situations in the hill areas too.
AMPFA is demanding compensation (for the crops), reduction of landowners’ crop share, identification of genuine farmers and kishan credit cards etc.
The farmers’ body however welcomed the decision of the present government to provide assistance to the needy farmers in view of the drought like situation.
However at the end of the day most of the government help and assistance goes to those who have connections instead of genuine farmers.
It may be mentioned that the state government had formed a state-level high powered committee to look into the drought-like condition and provide necessary assistance to the affected areas in Bishnupur, Imphal East and parts of Thoubal district.
The government also identified 51 places; 25 in Imphal East, 15 in Bishnupur, and 11 in Imphal West, to provide water (to the dry paddy fields) through river lift irrigation.
