A parched paddy field in Aghunaqa and Khaghaboto area under Niuland District. (Photo Courtesy: WSYF)
WSYF writes to Agri Minister for relief
Niuland, August 17 (MExN): Late arrival of monsoon and insufficient rainfall thereafter has left farming community in Aghunaqa and Khaghaboto area under Niuland District in huge distress, the Western Sumi Youth Front (WSYF) said on Wednesday.
The WSYF wrote to the Nagaland Minister for Agriculture, on behalf of the farming community, urging him to pass necessary orders to the concerned departments, so that on-the-spot verifications can be done in order to declare drought in the area and genuine affected farmers can be given financial assistance.
In the representation, the WSYF stated that the Aghunaqa and Khaghaboto areas were hugely affected owing to scanty rainfall during the year 2021-2022. Farmers in the said areas are deeply worried with the scanty rainfall this year even after the onset of monsoon, which arrived late, it maintained.
“Staple food production being dependent on direct rain-fed agriculture, the current situation spells doom for the farming community under the aforesaid jurisdiction since the area is witnessing long dry spells comparing to others parts of the state,” it stated in the representation.
The WSYF stated that farmers in the area have witnessed ‘massive agricultural crop loss’ this year due to scanty rainfall, in addition to the losses during the pandemic situation in the state. They are already finding it extremely difficulties to cope with these changes since almost all crops are season-dependent and rainfall-dependent, it said.
While a drought-like situation was sounded by the state government, the WSYF underscored that said area is “worst-hit and the farming community is already experiencing drought since all their agricultural crops have failed to survive and are staring at dried fields.” Hunger looms large for their farming community, it added.
As such, the WSYF urged the Minister to declare drought in the said area and take necessary steps in the interest of the affected farmers who will be in further distress if the government does not take positive steps.
“We also request to pass necessary orders directing Agriculture Department and the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority to depute their staffs for on-spot verification and for which the WSYF is ever ready to extend all possible support and cooperation,” it added.
