Amid ethnic violence, is Manipur staring at a famine?
According to an assessment by Irabot Foundation, Manipur, this year’s rice production is expected to suffer a significant deficit, with around 40,000 metric tonnes of rice falling short.
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Source: https://www.eastmojo.com/manipur/2023/07/04/amid-ethnic-violence-is-manipur-staring-at-a-famine/
Imphal: The ongoing violence in Manipur, which is now entering its third month, threatens the state’s food security, a prominent Imphal-based non-profit has warned.
In a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club in Majorkhul, Imphal, Irabot Foundation president Gopen Luwang highlighted the urgency of the situation, warning that failure to act swiftly could lead to widespread starvation in the coming years.
According to the foundation’s assessment, this year’s rice production could witness a significant deficit of about 40,000 metric tonnes.
Highlighting the risk of famine, Luwang said around 1 lakh people may be deprived of a sufficient share of rice.
He said that one of the major factors contributing to the state’s agricultural crisis is the unprovoked attacks on farmers by suspected militants in peripheral areas near the foothills. Frequent attacks have instilled fear among farmers, discouraging them from cultivating their lands and leading to a food crisis.
Condemning the attacks, Luwang appealed to the government to provide proper security measures in these vulnerable areas to protect the farmers and facilitate agricultural activities.