Around 200 farmers from Manipur who took loans for lemongrass plantation through the department of Trade, Commerce and Industries under ‘Make in Manipur scheme’ in 2015- 2016 are facing problems after the concerned department failed to supply plant saplings in time.

Farmers highlight that while the concerned banks have sent letters several times for repayment of loans, lemongrass farmers are not in a position to clear the debt because they did have yet earn any income from the lemongrass cultivation due to the untimely distribution of the plant saplings.

Addressing the media in Manipur at Manipur Press Club on Tuesday, executive member of Lemongrass Farmers’ Association, Imphal East, Y. Joykumar said that under the Manipur Food Industries Corporation Ltd (MFICL), ‘Make in Manipur Scheme’ was launched by the Directorate of Trade, Commerce and Industries.

He continued that under the said scheme, the directorate gave a loan of Rs. 40,000 for lemongrass plantation in 2015-2016.

As per the guideline of MFICL, Rs. 25,000 of the loan amount has to be transferred to the MFICL account for the distribution of lemongrass saplings and the rest Rs. 15,000 directly transferred to the farmers’ accounts for land development.

Unfortunately, the department has failed to supply plant saplings even after the land was prepared several times.

Later some farmers got the saplings during offseason and that too of poor quality, he alleges and further stated that due to that very reason they are unable to make any progress and rather have spent more on land cultivation than the amount sanction for the purpose.

In this regard, they approached concerned minister and department but not a single step is being taken up, he stated and further urged the state government to bring an amicable solution.