Even as the government of Manipur is keen to declare the state as drought-hit, the landlocked, border state, with 90 % of its landmass, comprising of hills, is feeling the pinch of climate change.

While intermittent showers accompanied by thunderstorms are being experienced in the populated areas of the state, known as the rice bowl of the northeast to indicate its sole focus on paddy cultivation, most agricultural fields which are well passed their sowing season are rain-starved raising serious concerns for possible famine in the state.

With the state till date, receiving only 50% of its share of rain this monsoon, the farmers, as well as the state’s agriculture department, are extremely worried about Kharif crops in the state. Farmers say that the state government has failed them by not laying a network of irrigation to overcome such a drought-like situation, given the fact that the state has numerous perennial water bodies all around. 

As a counter-strategy to help farmers irrigate their parched paddy fields, the state government has so far distributed 266 water pumping set to affected farmers and activated 157 lift irrigation schemes.

Oinam Kondom Singh, a farmer who had sown paddy seeds in his parched fields is worried at the scanty rain. Although Kondom thanked the government for providing him a water pumping set, he said that even pumping water into the parched fields for a while would not suffice and the water dries up within minutes of stopping the pump.

Meanwhile, the state cabinet has decided to recommend the central government to announce Manipur as a drought-hit state.

 To back up its claim, the state chief minister said the state received only 231.40 mm of rainfall this year between June till July, instead of the normal 530.80 mm of rainfall. The chief minister further directed the state agriculture department to engage experts to assess all technical parameters to urge the center to declare the state drought-hit.

Following the cabinet decision, the state agriculture department has directed all district agricultural officers (DAOs) to submitted detailed reports on the prevailing drought-like situation of the farmers and crops in all areas of the state, including the hill districts.

The department also directed the  DAOs to submit reports on possible measures to ease the inconveniences and problems faced by the farmers and people.

Even as the DAOs are assessing the paddy fields for declaration of drought, farmers of Imphal east district have alleged a vast span of paddy cultivation, approximately 2700 hectares, known as the Sabam Loukol, have been overlooked in the assessment.

Farmers claim Sabam Loukol contributes almost 75% of the total paddy produce of the state.

“Most people of this area depend on farming for livelihood. Today, a fear psychosis has gripped the people because most of our paddy fields have failed due to poor rain,” said Khamba Singh, a farmer of Sabam Loukol. Because of the scanty monsoon rain farmers of the area fear a possible famine.