The Devastating Impact of recent Flood on Farmers in Manipur

“Feeling so disappointed thinking about my lost crops due to the recent flood that occurred in the state. I have spent many sleepless nights just evaluating the lost and all my dreams,” lamented by Yumlembam Gopaldev Singh, 43yrs, from Uchekon Takok Mapal in Imphal East district.

He expressed in grief that the changing patterns of increasingly and unpredictable nature of severe weather phenomenon have a negative impact on farmers. Explaining about his lost in the recent flood, he said that his paddy variety (drum-phou) which was planted on three Sangam of low-lying paddy field area were all damaged by the recent second flood (1^st July, 2024) that occurred in state of Manipur. Luckily, the paddy plants which were planted in elevated areas were not affected by the flood.

As there is limited time, he will plant short duration ‘high yielding variety (Mani RCM-13). Though it is a high yielding variety but there is less demand in the market. So, there is a possibility of marginal profit or no profit in selling this current year. As a result of this, he might not be able to earn his annual income as before, he narrated. Before the devastated flood, 5^th May 2024 hailstorm event had disrupted his house destroying all the roofs, vegetables and even his fishes that was reared in his fish farm. All these events had made Gopaldev felt deeply disappointed as all his ambitious projects were all ruined. Calculating his lost, he expressed that the expected loss from his fish farm, seasonal vegetables and fruits is around 4 to 5 lakhs of rupees, He expressed his desires to take up appropriate mechanism and developed proper infrastructure to control flood in time so that farmers will not face the same problems in future.

The state experienced the second flood in the early week of July this year. The first flood and the hail storming event that occurred in the month of May this year have resulted great loss of the state in various sectors. The recent flood had great impact on farmers by destroy standing crops, washing away seeds and plants, leading to immediate loss of yield. Flood water eroded topsoil which is rich in nutrients essential for crop growth. These losses reduce soil fertility and make future planting less production. The recent flood also had an impact on the livestock which are crucial assets for many farmers. It damaged farm infrastructure such as barns, equipment, irrigation systems and fencing leading to high repair and replacement costs, introducing pollutants chemicals and pathogens which affect crop quality and pose health risk. Reduced yields and damaged infrastructure will lead to significant economic losses for farmers. This can affect their ability to repay loans, purchase inputs for the next season and sustain their livelihood. The loss and uncertainty caused by floods lead to stress, anxiety and depression among farmers and their families.

Another sibling farmer, Yumlembam Vasudeva, 52 years had lost his wheat which was planted in his four Sangam area of paddy field at Wangkhei Loumanbi in Imphal East district which was about to harvest. Above all, whole his paddy plants were also damaged by the recent flood which occurred in the first week of July this year. All matured and ripe tomato, cabbage, onion, pumpkin, bottle-gourd etc. were all destroyed. Every day he sold tomato for Rs. 2000 per day, pumpkin weighing more than 3kg of about (5-6) bags per day. He expressed that he had lost everything due to the recent hailstorm and floods. He asked himself, “Whom should we blame for this great lost”? His question will remain as it is without any reply, he added. There are many more farmers who had experiencing a great loss this year caused by extreme weather events.

Another farmer who has been farming since childhood, Angoijam Angouba Meitei, 78 years felt profound sense of disappointment and loss as the floodwaters damaged his carefully cultivated paddy crops. Mr. Angouba from Nambol Kongkham Makha Leikai in Bishnupur district narrated that all his ‘Leirangbi’ hybrid paddy plant which was planted in his 3.5 Sangam of paddy field were all lost by the flood where the level of water was above his knee level. Before August this year, he will be sowing ‘Tampha’ variety paddy in his paddy field as an experiment. He will plant seasonal vegetables at his other field where paddy plants are not favourable. Even he did not find any place to keep his cattle and feed them during the flood time as there is no dry place in and around his place. He lamented that he had recovered his investment for planting his paddy, cucumber, beans, and other vegetables. But just at the juncture of starting selling his vegetables, the recent hailstorm and floods have damaged all his crops. He added that he did not find the appropriate word to express his worries caused by those disasters in this year 2024. If he doesnot have good yield from this ‘Tampha variety’ of paddy he doubts for his family’s consumption for the next year. He does not have any means rather than putting his fate only to God.

Talking to IRAP, another victimized farmer Arambam Surchandra, 50 years from Nambol Kabo Wakching in Bishnupur district expressed that the recent flood had damaged all his sweet corns which were planted in his three Pari of land (7.5 acres). Even seasonal vegetables such as chili, tomato, pumpkin were also damaged by the hailstorm. Natural disaster that happened three times this year recently has devastated all his vegetables. All his hopes and plans were washed away by the recent flood (1^st July). He had invested all the money in his vegetables farm by selling all his paddy rice. He worried how he will manage his family with a heavy lost this year by hailstorm and floods. He expresses in grief that all his dreams had been washed away leaving them with nothing to show for their months of labour.

In this regard, Prof. Chinglen Meisnam, Dept. of Economics, Manipur University pointed out that agrarian crisis has been already exist in Manipur since Pre-Covid-19 pandemic Period and moreover by the present conflict. As per All India census report, 2000 farmers are giving up their job due to various challenges faced by farmers. In Manipur farmers started planting poppy instead of paddy particularly in hill areas to make a big profit without thinking about the environmental degradation. Even farmers have changed from paddy crops to cash crops. As many farmers do not possess their own land, they became agricultural labourers day by day. The recent flood which damaged crops might result in food insecurity because of low production and will result to high price. Even farmers might not have sufficient food grains for themselves for the next year. If the annual income of the farmers is below the expected amount, it will have impact on their children’s education, health and other activities. Extreme weather events are closely related in determining the fortune of the farmers, he added.

Professor L. Nabachandra, Head Department of Agrononmy, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal suggested that farmers whose paddy have been damaged by the recent floods can transplant short duration paddy varieties which requires about 110 days. They can transplant till last week of July or latest by first week of August. He also suggested that by establishing a buffer stock, food grains can be reserved to stabilized prices and supply during period of shortage or surplus. 30 percent of the seed requirements by the farmers need to be fulfilled by buffer stock. If a buffer stock could be established in Manipur, farmers will not face the problems of grains shortage (phoudi) after damaged of paddy by floods. He opined that farmers need to be make fully aware about the crop insurance to compensate their lost caused by extreme weather events. At the same time insurance companies also need to convince the farmers regarding crop insurance. Prof. Nabachandra lamented that only few farmers approach the university and concern persons regarding higher knowledge in crop plantation to improve their yield. He appealed all the farmers of the state to feel free and approach them in time of needs. They are also ready to support the farmers.

Efforts to mitigate the impacts of flood include improved flood forecasting, resilient farming practices, infrastructure improvements and access to financial support and insurances. On the positive side, the increased risk of flooding due to climate change can drive innovational adoption of more resilient agricultural practices. This includes flood resilient crop varieties, improved water management techniques and better land use planning. Additionally, efforts to combat climate change at a global level are essential to reduce the long-term risks and impacts on agriculture.

(The article is filed under the 5^th State level Media Fellowship Programme on Climate Change under the sponsorship of the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Manipur.)

KSH. CHITRABHANU DEVI