Source: The Sangai Express / Addie Chiphang
Ukhrul, October 29 2009:
As part of the strategy to minimise impact of drought on the food grain stock, the Ukhrul district administration has begun distribution of rabi crop seeds to the cultivators.
Consequently more than 179 metric tonnes of seeds of rabi crops had been distributed under the National calamity relief fund in the district out of which over 25 metric tonnes included seeds of wheat, cabbage, potato and pea.
These items were dispatched to all the six blocks of Ukhrul district with the Deputy Commissioner formally flagging off the seed loads recently.
The district agriculture officer has been reportedly instructed to oversee distribution of the seeds to every needy farmers in the respective blocks.
Sources from agriculture department said out of the total amount of Rs 7 cores earmarked for the state by the central government, Ukhrul district received rabi crop seeds and plant protection chemicals worth Rs 68 lakhs.
Soon after Manipur was declared as the drought affected state by the government due to scanty rainfall this year an expert team from the planning commission of India and ministry of agriculture had visited Manipur for the spot survey on august 21, 2009 and during the survey the team covered paddy fields along Thoubal river till Lamlang village.
According to records maintained in the district agriculture office, severity of the drought impact is immense in Ukhrul district affecting about 4390 hectares of terrace paddy fields, 1050 hectares virtually failing due to lack of paddy sapling and out of 9000 hectares of jhum cultivation about 1800 hectares facing either stunted growth or continuously withering owing rainfall scarcity.
Informed sources further maintained that the relief provided under calamity relief fund is to atleast make up for the loss in agriculture crops of the previous cultivation period and to minimise food scarcity.
An Ukhrul district farmer said, harvest season of kharif crops has arrived but he do not expect to reap benefit like in the past wherein he usually salvage about 400 to 500 Shung (Tin) from his paddy field.
If I had water pump, I would have expected a higher growth but this year inspite of more effort the prolonged dry spell is certain to deny me any benefit for the toil, the farmer added.
Though drought had hit about half of the district's cultivation zones, the agriculture office in the district is confident that alternative measures being initiated could provide some solace to the food producers and suggested that proper protective steps such as timely application of fertilizers be taken up in addition to preparation for disease control measures.