Waving its magic wand by breaking the drought spell, Manipur finalises on buying 100 pump sets for paddy fields

Imphal, July 5: With gushing water of monsoon hitting across India, there are still some states and region which are bonded by the spell of drought. Reaching out to such regions, Manipur Agriculture Department has finalized for buying 100 pump sets for supply of water to drought like situation faced paddy fields in the State.

 

The decision was made by Manipur agriculture, veterinary and animal husbandry minister V Hangkhanlian during a press conference in Imphal on Wednesday. The Minister stated that there was shortage of water for seed sowing due to scanty of rainfall but agriculture department has prepared to sow paddy seeds at government’s land for the relief of problems faced by the farmers at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), mechanised farm by practising latest method, covering 10 hectares at Lamphel and one hectare in Thoubal district for distribution to some needy areas.

The aim is to fill around 1100 hectares paddy field where water is not available. He also informed that there is sufficient buffer stock of fertilizers for the farmers of the state and urges not to panic farmers though shortage of rainfall.

Further, the minister said that there was sufficient buffer stock of 2 lakhs 90 thousand bags of ureas and fertilizers which are stocked at different godowns such as in Thoubal, Bishnupur, Imphal East and West with proper protection from leakage.

Through some Ministers and MLAs around 1000 bags of fertilizers are given already to the farmers. The department makes a decision to give fertilizers to farmers who produce farm patta and adhaar card according to their field areas. The department try to procure additional 58 thousand bags which is on the way. There will not be inefficiency of fertilizers for the farmers in the state.

Preparation has been made to prevent fertilizers going to the wrong hands, and it is constantly looked into whether the right beneficiaries receive the fertilizers or not, he added. The minister also appealed to the farmer brethren not to panic due to the shortage of rainfall and fertilizers. The department has taken steps to solve the problems of the farmers and provide sufficient seedling and other requirements of the farmers, he added.