Imphal, May 31 2009: Manipur agriculture minister, N Loken who is also holding the charge of minor irrigation Sunday blamed his predecessor for not taking up works in the interest of the welfare of the farmers.

Speaking as chief guest in the Farmers Meet 2009 held at GM Hall, Imphal, minister, Loken said the failure of minor irrigation projects was due to the non-implementation of various minor irrigation projects well so that farmer could avail the benefits.

He said the earlier minister did not taken up construction of small dams and lift irrigation system but only given emphasis on the construction of canals.

He strongly charged the then minister (without naming) that he had done only to earn pocket money in collusion with the contractors.

Ph Parijat of CPI was the minister for agriculture and minor irrigation till a reshuffle was effected to the present Congress-CPI coalition SPF government led by O Ibobi Singh.

"My predecessor constructed plenty of irrigation canals so that there seen canal everywhere in nook and corner of the state but no dam to supply water was constructed," he criticized.

Now, he in consultation with the officials of the departments, agriculture and minor irrigation, he is holding the charges has chalk out plan to construct dams and canals as well so that farmers could get irrigation water all the year round.

He said this expressing concerned over the increasingly shrinking agricultural areas lands of the state owing to taking up development plants and projects and coming up brick fields and schools in the cultivable lands.

Agriculture contribute 80 percent of the state economy is well known by all.

To bring development in the state need development of agriculture and enhancing the productivity of agricultural produces.

So, considering the diminishing agricultural area, introduction of double and triple crops is a must.

For this well irrigation system is required as farmers could not depend only on natural rain, Loken said.

He further said that his department is getting ready for the launching of the Krishi Vigyan Bikash Yojana (KVBY) in the state as a part of another initiative for the poor farmers.

For this, Rs 25 crores has been earmarked at the state annual budget 2009-10, he announced.

Principal secretary (agriculture) O Nabakishore said that not like that of last year there need not worried for shortage of fertilizers.

Enough fertilizers from outside the state has been procured.

He also informed the famers that they can buy urea fertilizers at the rate of Rs 260 per bag as fixed by the government after giving subsidy.

Deputy director (soil chemist) Ph Rajendro while giving key note address highlighted various schemes of the department for the welfare of the farmers.

Successful stories of various schemes like the implementation of IMP method of cultivation and setting of model seed villages in various districts of the state were related.

As part of the programme, state agriculture department also given prizes to the position holders of the 2008 season crop competition for the farmers applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM) method of cultivation.

The even was marked by interaction and exchange of idea among the farmers and agricultural scientists of the Central Agricultural University and experts of the state agriculture department.

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