IMPHAL, August 28: The farmers in the state under the initiative of North East Dialogue Forum, Manipur has decided to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India regarding the fertilizer shortage being faced in the state.
Representatives of farmers from all the nine districts of the state under the initiative of North East Dialogue Forum, Manipur had called a press conference today at Manipur Press Club regarding the non-availability of fertilizers in the state.
Speaking to the media, the forum’s general secretary Nongthongbam Rupachandra said that the Agriculture Minister had given his assurance last year to provide fertilizers to the farmers on time.
But till today, the Minister’s assurance remains unfulfilled, he said.
Now farmers in the state are facing fertiliser shortage and would want to know where their share of fertiliser has been siphoned off, and who has stolen it, he said.
A memorandum with three points will be submitted to the Prime Minister of India to take immediate action against it, he said.
The farmers in their memorandum demanded to conduct immediate investigation by setting up a special investigation team (SIT) into the matter to punish the culprits involve in the ‘smuggling of fertilizers.’ The memorandum has urged the Prime Minister, Chief Minister and Governor to established and introduce an Agricultural policy for the farmers in the state.
The farmers in their memorandum said that the Ithai barrage and Loktak project have caused artificial flood damaging crops and submerging agricultural land of around 500 villages in and around Loktak lake and demanded to decommission Ithai barrage and Loktak project.
The memorandum has also urged a central team to investigate on why Ithai barrage remained closed during this rainy agricultural season.
