Manipur likely facing food scarcity as ethnic violence affects farming

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• Jul 5, 2023 | Poonam Nath

Farmers fear that if farming is not completed in full swing across the state by the end of the month, there may be a shortage of...

Digital Desk: As a result of the continuous ethnic violence in Manipur, many farmers in the state are unable to tend to their fields. The food production in the state would also be impacted if the situation does not improve, a senior official said on Wednesday.

According to the Director of the Department of Agriculture, N Gojendro, farmers were unable to cultivate 5,127 hectares of farmland, resulting in a loss of 15,437.23 metric tonnes up until June 28.

N Gojendro stated that "If the farmers are unable to cultivate paddy this monsoon season, the loss will increase by the end of July. The department has, however, readied fertilisers and seeds that can be harvested in a shorter time and require lesser amount of water."

According to Gojendro, Manipur is home to between 2 and 3 lakh farmers who grow paddy on 1.95 lakh hectares of land used for agriculture, and Thoubal district has the state's highest production per hectare.

Farmers fear that if farming is not completed in full swing across the state by the end of the month, there may be a shortage of locally produced "Meitei Rice," which might lead to price increases in the following year.

Despite the threat of being fired at by militants stationed in the neighbouring hills, some farmers in Imphal's rural districts continue to work their fields, but many others avoid it during the busy growing season out of concern for their safety.

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Thokchom Milan, a farmer from the Bishnupur district's Moidangpokpi area, where numerous incidents of firing occurred, said, "Incidents of firing on farmers from bunkers of militants on hilltops has paralysed paddy cultivation in the periphery of Imphal Valley."

Thokchom added, "Some of us go to the fields with fear in our hearts but we have to cultivate else we will go hungry an entire year."

The 40-year-old farmer predicted that next year's "Meitei Rice" shortages and price increases would result from this year's lower food production as the "Meitei Rice" requires a lot of water for cultivation. It contains a lot of carbs and starch.

According to Chief Minister N Biren Singh, 2,000 state personnel have reportedly been deployed in areas at risk to police and protect farmers as they cultivate.