IMPHAL, June 27: The term “farmer” implies that one has enough farming tools, adequate farm land and not just tilling the land who belongs to another person. The term “peasants” should be used rather than “farmers” in Manipur and the condition of the agricultural community is in a pathetic state, observed opposition leader Dr I Ibohanbi at the Assembly today.
The MLA was giving his observation on Demand no 17 regarding Agriculture during the General Budget discussion.
He said that the state mainly relies on agriculture products and there is 3.69 lakh acres of arable land with a rice produce of 389 tons annually.
Even then, there is a shortage of supply at the rate of 26.48 percent. He stated that the gap between supply and demand may not be much but it is not right to leave the gap unaddressed.
He pointed out the need for augmenting major and minor irrigation projects mentioning that sometimes water is more precious to the farmers than gold.
In his motion for disapproval of policy cut, he mentioned that it is somewhat fortunate that the Central Agriculture University (CAU), Iroisemba and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are there to impart new farming technology to farmers.
Voicing disapproval that the State does not have a clear cut agriculture land use policy nor has an agriculture land protection bill been projected, he added that this matter was discussed in the House proceedings in the last Assembly session held in February last but there is no follow up to redress the plight of the farmers.
He pointed to the Agriculture Minister whether this matter will be taken up in the next Assembly winter session.
Ibohanbi also voiced the want for instituting soil testing laboratories in all districts of the State.