Hard times for farmers as hailstorms destroy crops

Imphal, Oct 23: A squall accompanied by hail during the past few days have destroyed most crops at Manipur.

The worst affected areas were Senapati, Chandel , Thoubal and Bishenpur districts.

Rocky, Secretary of the M Ningthoupham village authority, Senapati district said, "the entire crop in the region was destroyed by the strong wind. All the farmers were waiting eagerly for the crops to blossom and they had painstakingly nurtured the crops for almost one year." He said the farmers mostly poor people would face a major food problem next year.

In Manipur hills most farmers plant rice once a year. It is extremely hard as terrace cultivation was the method of agriculture, a farmer said. The time for harvesting had come and all effort of the entire year was lost the farmers said.

Rocky said the authority should stop in considering the plight of the poor farmers and take up measures to rehabilitate them. Farmers at Chandel district said the hailstorm started on saturday last and the harvesting festival was to begin today.

They were shocked to see the entire crops at Chandel district being destroyed by the wind and the hailstorm. Officials estimated that in Chandel district alone about 100 villages must be affected by the hailstorm and actual estimate of losses were yet to be calculated.

The farmers said they will apprise the matter to the district officials and request for help.

UNI