Expressing concern over possible potential famine in Manipur, distressed farmers of Khangabok in Thoubal District on Monday urged the authorities concerned to initiate immediate necessary actions to remove the weeds in the paddy fields of the area so as to enable them to drain the excess water from the fields.
A team of Manipur Loumi lup visited Khangabok on November 4 and interacted with farmers and heard their grievances, stated a release.
Around 2,500 acres of agricultural land in Khangabok have reportedly submerged due to surplus water from the Thambalngangbi canal in Khangabok, it stated.
Farmer leaders stated that there are various paddy fields around the area including Bihu, Sallam, Keipha, Umarou etc, it said. It lamented that severe waterlogging in the paddy fields, which are almost ready for harvest, has shattered the hopes of the farmers, who toiled for months for a good harvest.
The farmers are dealing the devastating blow at the worst possible time, when there is a possibility of crop shortage owing to the prevailing crisis in the state which broke out on May 3, it asserted. Out of the total agricultural land in the area which is around 1,95,000 hectares, around 52 per cent is confined to the valley, it stated, adding that around 24015.32 acres of agricultural land have been abandoned owing to the conflict.
The farmers have been trying with all their might to drain the excess water from the fields, however, their efforts have been hindered due to the presence of weeds in the canal area, it stated. They also exuded confidence that timely execution of work by the authorities concerned to remove the weeds by using machinery will facilitate them in draining the excess water in no time.
The association, voicing the concerns and plights facing the distressed farmers of the area, urged those concerned to initiate immediate necessary measures at the earliest, the release added.
