Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 21 2010:
State Agriculture Minister, N Loken today earnestly appealed to the underground outfits to stop giving disturbances in the implementation of farmer oriental programmes asserting the importance of agriculture for the development to bring about in the state.
The minister made the appeal while speaking as chief guest of the prize distribution function of the rice crop competition of the state agriculture department 2009-10 held at the training hall of the office premises of the department of agriculture at Sanjenthong today.
The first position of the competition which was took part by 68 farmers across the state was won by N Brojen of Awang Potsangbam of Imphal west district.
The second position went to Th Romeo of Kakching Ningthou Leikai of Thoubal district and the third went to K Sunil of Shantipur Bazar of Thoubal district.
A power tiller was presented to the first position holder while the second and third position holders got Rs 30,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.
Prizes to the district level competition were also distributed.
First, second and third position holders of the district level competitions were given Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000, Rs 10,000 respectively.
Speaking as chief guest of the function, minister N Loken said that now the officials of his department has started taking interest in taking up welfare and developmental works as they go to the fields and hold direct interaction with the farmers to sort out their problems.
Expressing concern over the frequent threats posed to the officials by underground cadres, the minister said that the funds released to the department by the government as well as from the Centre under Centrally sponsored programmes are mean for the poor farmers and improving the productivity of the state.
The undergrounds threatening the officials of the department should keep in mind this and stop from such kind of acts which would make official unable to contact with the farmers.
If the undergrounds continue to attack on them and their houses, they have to stop going to field and contact with farmer.
The resultant will be the looser of the poor farmers which would be a looser of the state, he said.