Imphal, February 21, 2010: Taking serious note of gradual shrinkage of cultivation areas in the state an 'Agricultural Land Preservation Mission' has been launched today specifically aimed at preventing cultivable land within Heingang Assembly constituency, from being used in non-agriculture purpose.

The agricultural land saving campaign was initiated by the Heingang Kendra Loumi Lup and has been formally launched at a simple function held this morning at Shangakpham Bazar by the Lup's president N Samer.

With the launch of the mission, its volunteers immediately swung into action by planting notice boards at several paddy cultivation sites within the Assembly segment.

The notice prohibits purchase or conversion of paddy cultivation areas of the AC for non-agricultural activities including construction of dwelling houses and industrial complexes without prior information and consent of the Lup failing which stringent action would be initiated against the defaulters.

The warning notice was also distributed to the public in pamplet form.

Earlier, N Samer cautioned that failure to implement timely preventive measures to protect cultivation areas would not only result in drastic reduction of food crops but also pose threat to survival of those families whose source of economic sustenance is dependent on seasonal works at paddy field.

Moreover, allowing acquisition of paddy fields for non-agricultural activities would lead to such a situation that the people will on day forget about Manipur being a land of agricultural abundance, the Lup president observed.

He also suggested that construction of houses and industries be encouraged at the cascading hill ranges that surrounds the valley districts which in the long run would bring the hill and valley people closer to one another apart from bridging the gap of economic disparity between the two.

Pointing out that manipur had been experiencing reduction in space for agricultural purposes in the last few decades, he strongly advocated preservation of cultivation sites so as to ensure employment through agricultural activities for the future generation as well as food security for the people of the State.

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