Manipur Farmers Warn of Crop Failure as Monsoon Delays Drag On

Imphal: Dry fields haunt Manipur valley farmers. Monsoon rains failed to show up on time, stalling paddy transplantation well into July. While hill districts like Ukhrul and Tamenglong report healthy progress, the valley remains bone dry.

Thoubal district sits in the crosshairs of this agricultural disaster. Farmers stare at cracked soil, knowing their rice yields will crater without immediate intervention. The lack of water is not just bad luck. It is a structural failure.

The state has rivers, dams, and reservoirs, but no pipes to move the water. Farmers rely entirely on the clouds. They say this dependence on rain leaves their livelihoods at the mercy of a broken system. Farmer representatives blame officials for the shortage rather than the weather. One spokesperson noted, "The absence of a robust irrigation system has exposed the state's agricultural sector to recurring climate-related disruptions."

The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity and the Irabot Foundation are now pressuring the government. They want a new irrigation policy and agriculture experts on the payroll to fix the mess. These groups also asked the Central Agricultural University and the ICAR Research Complex to push faster research into drought-resistant rice. Without action, food security in the region faces a grim reality.