MHA approves Rs 38 crore aid for Manipur farmers

The compensation will cover 5,127 hectares of severely affected agricultural land in eight districts

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the release of Rs 38 crore as a crop compensation package to help the farmers in Manipur who are facing difficulties due to ongoing conflicts and insufficient rainfall.

Since the clashes started on May 3, many farmers in vulnerable areas couldn’t go to their fields, and some got hurt during attacks while farming. The compensation will cover 5,127 hectares of severely affected agricultural land in eight districts, both in the valley and the hills.

The Manipur Agriculture Commissioner, RK Dinesh, said these areas were identified in June as places where farming might not be possible because of the current unstable situation.

To address this tough situation, the department suggested a crop compensation package of Rs 38.06 crore to the MHA and the ministry gave its approval on it. “Our top priority is to quickly give this relief to the affected farmers, ideally by November this year”, RK Dinesh was quoted by media reports.

The estimated loss is calculated based on the average crop yield in the affected districts for the last three years and areas where farming might not be possible. Among the eight affected districts, Bishnupur has been impacted the most with 2,191 hectares remaining uncultivated, followed by Imphal East (633), Senapati (597.83), Thoubal (581), Imphal West (539), Churachandpur (275), Chandel (273.35), and Jiribam (37 Ha).

The final count of farmers to receive compensation will be determined by the deputy commissioners, who are currently conducting a verification campaign.

A survey conducted by Loumee Shinmee Apunba Lup (LOUSAL), a prominent farmers’ group, revealed that about 9,719 hectares of paddy fields in the valley are at risk of crop failure because farmers are afraid to go out to their fields due to ongoing violence by armed individuals.

However, in July, efforts were made to send farmers to prepare for sowing with security arrangements. A state-level monitoring committee was formed, along with five other farmers’ groups, to help with the farm crisis under the state government’s initiative. The state government started providing security to protect farmers during the monsoon planting season based on the committee’s advice.

Copy edited by Bhargobi Khaund

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