By Jiten Yumnam
In a significant
development on 25 July 2014, the Manipur Assembly passed the Manipur Conservation
of Paddy Land Bill 2014 amidst the longstanding and ongoing struggle for
protection of agriculture land on an urgent basis. The passing of the Bill
indicates at least a tardy realization of the Government, at least, of basic significance
of agriculture in Manipur’s economy. However, one wonders what Manipur actually
needs at this point of time in agriculture or for that matter in larger
Manipur’s economy. Is it mere protection of paddy land or protection of
agriculture land? One is also concerned on the approach, piecemeal or holistic?
The question is more obvious given Manipur’s land terrain, its geography and
diverse pattern of agriculture practices. Manipur’s agriculture both in the
valley and the hills is not restricted merely to paddy cultivation. Especially
in the hill areas, diversified cultivation assumes much prominence with
pursuance of traditional forms of agriculture.
Manipur has different
categories of agriculture land, depending on the terrain, in the plains, wetlands,
hills, forest etc with diverse agricultural practice. One wonders if the policy
will cover all agriculture land. The protection of agricultural land in Manipur
should also entail protection of wetlands, forest land and those areas with
possibility for permanent cultivation. And here it is highly crucial to ensure
involvement of all different communities of Manipur practising different types
and forms of agriculture practices and to acknowledge their pattern of land
ownership and agriculture practices, to identify best practices and ways to
protect agricultural land in all terrains across Manipur.
Interestingly, the bill
is introduced at a time where agriculture land both in the hills and valley fast
shrinks and vigorously conscripted for multiple large scale development
projects and uncontrolled urbanization. Land grabbing is an alarming phenomenon
fast unfolding in Manipur amidst India’s aggressive pursuance of neoliberal
economic policies and its economic and political expansionist policies. Peoples’
stern resistance against agriculture land acquisition without their free prior
and informed consent, such as for creation of Capitol Project, Industrial
Growth Centre, international Airport in Imphal etc are still fresh in peoples’
memories[1]. Today,
residents of Yurembam are dead against the land acquisition move for Trans
Asian Highway. The village already lost substantial
trace of their land to the Power Station of NEEPCO, Ltd and due to the
expansion of 400 KV power plant of the Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd very
recently[2]. Further much concern abound that the inconsiderate implementation
of the subsidy oriented National Food Security Act, 2012 of India in Manipur
has enormous potential to destroy indigenous agriculture with dumping of cheap
and chemical laden food grain from beyond Manipur. Much of Manipur’s prime
agriculture land is also lost due to extensive militarization of Indian armed
forces under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 to subdue insurgent
groups seeking self determination of Manipur.
The new policy will
simply be irrational and meaningless without addressing the implications of development
onslaught in Manipur. Manipur, with its geographical advantage of locating
right in middle of South Asia and South East Asia is already at the centre of an
international economic process of converting entire Asian region into a huge
market. The Trans Asian Railway, the Trans Asian Highway and the 400 KV High
Voltage Transmission lines are part of the larger strategy to economically
connect Asian sub regions and to foster trade between countries in South Asian
and South East Asia, the process being facilitated by economically powerful
countries through Multilateral banks, viz, World Bank, Asian Development Bank
etc and bilateral banks like Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The
enormous challenge is indigenous peoples of Manipur are excluded in the process
of defining such development priorities and processes. Further, the people are
not even informed of the potential multifaceted impacts of large development
initiative under such processes. Rather its land, its forest and rich resources
are already subjected to economic exploitation, as evident in the ongoing
process to construct more than 200 mega dams all over India’s North East region
and to drill oil and natural gas by multinational companies, such as in Manipur
by Jubilant Energy. Indeed, power trading is one of the priorities set in Asian
Development Bank’ and World Bank’s development visions for the region. The infrastructures
created for such economic process will conscript huge trace of prime agriculture
land and will directly facilitate unhindered dumping of cheap agricultural
produces from across borders from South and South East Asia, thus destroying
indigenous agriculture and undermining food sovereignty of Manipur.
The need for clarity on
reasons for loss of agricultural land need be considered. Will there be a
rethinking of the development process and rescinding of unsustainable policies
with the move to defend agriculture land? Or will it be just an expression of
intent devoid of practicalities. Will it also rethink certain development
process, such as 105 MW Loktak HEP Project, to return the 83,000 acres of prime
agriculture land, submerged by the project? Will it also consider abandoning
the Tipaimukh dam project which will submerge nearly 30,000 hectares of forest
and fertile agriculture land along the Barak River and its tributaries in
Tamenglong and Churachandpur Districts[3]?
Will the decision led to saving more than 1000 hectares of agriculture land in
Mapithel Valley to be submerged by Mapithel dam[4]?
The proposed Chakpi dam will submerge more than 3000 hectares, most of which
will be prime agriculture land along the Chakpi River in Chandel District[5].
One also needs be clear
of the objectives of pursuing such bill or policies? One needs a comprehensive
assessment of reasons for loss of agriculture land or threats to sustainable
agriculture in Manipur, based on which the policy need be based. Manipur’s agriculture in all terrains is increasingly
rendered uneconomical for the farmers and indigenous communities due to
multiple reasons, high cost of fertilizer and pesticides, high labor cost, lack
of state support, influx of cheap agricultural items, impacts of climate change
and lack of marketing support, bad infrastructure etc.
One may also ask if the
passing of the bill or the enactment of related policies able to defend
agriculture land of Manipur. Manipur’s agriculture is under intense pressure
due to the liberalization of Indian agriculture, where Agri corporate bodies
are fast converting the state into their market for fertilizers, pesticides,
high yielding seeds, agriculture equipments etc, which increases cost of
farming. Defense of agricultural land need rethinking the capitalist led
development, dominant development model based on profits for private parties,
which undermines sustainable agriculture. One wonders if the Government of
Manipur will embark on this at a time when it is deeply encouraging commercial
agriculture as outlined in the New Land Use Policy of Manipur 2014[6].
The reality today is the unregulated corporate expansionism under imperialist countries
led globalization is the biggest threat to sustainable agriculture in Manipur?
The Government need be sensitive to such challenges and threats to agriculture
in Manipur, both in the hills and plains. Further, also to understand the
grievances of small scale farmers, which have limited state support for their
agriculture activities, such as purchase of farm equipments, irrigation
facilities and crop insurance etc. Without challenging the larger unsustainable
development models and all threats to sustainable agriculture, a mere defense
of paddy land will simply be irrational? There are fundamental contradictions
to be addressed, in policy application and in defining development vision and
processes. One also wonder if there will there be reconsideration of the
Policies like Manipur Tourism Policy 2011 and Manipur Hydroelectric Power
Policy etc, that will destroy agriculture land, forest, water sources and restrict
community’s access to their land and survival sources.
Is formulation of paddy
conservation bill rational? One may rather wish to press a policy to protect
all agriculture land in its entirely in Manipur and will certainly lead to a more
substantial understanding of Manipur in itself, which can lead to answers to
many challenges of Manipur. The Government of Manipur should consider a
comprehensive agriculture policy which recognize communities’ rights over their
land and recognize their right to free, prior and informed consent before
introducing any initiative or development projects that will undermine their
rights or relationship with their land. It is highly crucial to perceive the
importance and intrinsic relationship of communities with their land. A
holistic policy to protect agriculture land, wetlands, forest of Manipur should
be framed in due consultation with communities. The policy need be based on
sustainable agriculture, promotion of small scale farming, recognition of
indigenous agriculture, addressing the key threats to agriculture etc with the protection
of agriculture land as one of the key and essential components of the policy. Protection
of agricultural land should be an essential and key component of promoting just
and sustainable development in Manipur. A mere intent to protect agriculture
land will mean nothing till a holistic approach is adopted for
agriculture.
Addressing and
reversing the potential threats to a viable and sustainable agriculture in
Manipur, such as extensive promotion of industries, large scale development
projects, infrastructure projects, extensive militarization etc is highly
crucial. A thorough understanding of the potential risks and challenges of
agriculture in Manipur in the larger neoliberal economic framework of
considering agriculture purely in economic terms need be pursued. One need to
ponder where is Manipur’s agriculture and how our farmers can cope with the
onslaught of multiple free trade agreements signed by India with South East
Asian and South Asian countries. In this context, merely conserving paddy land
will highly be insufficient. It is highly critical to really identify and
insist on what needs to conserved and for what purpose and if it simply will be
enough. Reviewing and changing development processes detrimental in sustainable
agriculture is urgent. Protection of agriculture land is not feasible less
there’s a concerted effort both to understand and to respond to the larger global
forces, which already threatened the socio- economic, political and cultural
values of Manipur
[1] Developmental
challenges : Airport & University expansion, The Sangai Express, 11 May
2008,
[2] Manipur's debut in
railway map may wipe out Yurembam, fear inhabitants
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network, The 9 July 2014
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network, The 9 July 2014
[3] “Damned Hearings of Tipaimukh
High Dam”, by Jiten Yumnam, the Imphal Free Press
[4] “Mapithel Dam and Militaristic
Development”, by Jiten Yumnam, the Sangai Express
[5] “Nuances of Chakpi Dam Plan in
Manipur”, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur, March 2014
[6] New Nuisance: Manipur’s New Land
Use Policy 2014, by Jiten Yumnam The Sangai Express, 22 July 2014
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