In a significant relief for the agrarian community of Manipur’s Ukhrul and Kamjong, bulk of farmers had reportedly received better paddy yields than last year where it had reduced by 45 to 50 per cent.
Contrary to last year’s poor harvest where yield had declined by 45 to 50 per cent, this season showed better results as the turnover jumped to double figure much to the relief of farmers who feared that another crop failure may hit their livelihood and further worsen their already grim situation.
This development came at a time when extreme climatic conditions had taken a heavy toll on crops production and productivity besides massive destruction caused to livestock and properties. The damage is more severe for farmers who rely on a single crop in a season where crop failure means instability and debt.
Misehilo Wezah, 65, a farmer from Jessami was a happy man today with his field producing 150 tins (local measuring unit) worth of paddy grains.
Last year he harvested only a meager 70 tins with the grains being infested by pests prior to harvest. In the past 30 years, he could easily harvest as many as 300 to 400 tins. But things took a turn amid the shift in climate.
“In the life of a farmer, nothing is comparable with the joy one derives from good yields after months of time, labour and energy spent in the field,” a visibly satisfied Wezah expressed, hoping for a joyous festive season and happy new year.
Jessami shared a boundary with Manipur’s neighbouring Nagaland state. The village is home to Mrs Hume's Pheasant, the endangered ‘Nongyin,’ the state bird.
The region has been witnessing different forms of climate-induced disasters one after another such as cyclones, heavy rainfall, wind storms, flooding, landslides, soil erosion, and mudslides etc.
Given these incidents, farmers’ hopes for surplus harvest were turned upside down with standing crops being damaged. Irrigation canal was another worrying concern as flooding severely damaged it. In the midst of all these, the farmers’ future looked bleak with no alternatives.
However, with harvesting nearing completion, and with grains collected showing better results, the farming community had at least something to rejoice and hope for the future.
Achonphy R, 52, was one of the several farmers who reaped the benefits of good paddy yields. She was one of the several farmers who reportedly incurred windfall reduction last year.
“I harvested 200 tins of paddy though I was expecting less. My family would have enough to last a year, she told the Imphal Free Press.
She credited the outcomes to timely supply of uninterrupted water supply, even in less volume, when the crops needed it the most. “I was truly overjoyed to have harvested such volumes,” a beaming Achonphy expressed.
There are several farmers who corroborated her reactions on receiving good dividends from their hard labour. But there are several equally worried farmers. Their main concern is that a field that provides good yield in the last 25 to 30 years no longer excites them with yield sharply declining with each season due to erratic weather patterns and reduction in soil fertility.
They, however, still believe that it could at least regain part of its vitality by introducing a viable alternative arrangement to cope with water-woes and other climatic issues plaguing the farmers’ crops.
The good news in the offing is that the use of chemicals to improve crop yields is not rampant.
As per reports gathered from different farmers, it was found that several key areas in the agriculture sector are in need of major change with climate-risked becoming a reality and no more lurking dangers. In view of these predicaments, the need for mitigation, effective climate resilience measures, conservation of forest cover etc, are required to tackle the pressing issue facing the farmers and general public.
