Farming Amid Tensions in Manipur’s Buffer Zone

Quick Summary:

• Khoirentak Khuman, a Kom tribal village in Manipur, exists within the ‘buffer zone’ separating Meitei areas from Kuki-Zo regions amidst an ethnic conflict as May 2023 that has resulted in over 250 deaths.
• The region is marked by a complex three-tier security setup involving CRPF, BSF, Army personnel, and paramilitary forces; farmers must register their identity to move through checkpoints.
• Farmers report difficulties accessing lands due to sporadic firing and safety concerns. Over two years of violence led to notable agricultural disruptions:

– In 2023 alone, crops on 9,720 hectares were lost within Imphal Valley’s periphery due to fear. Total estimated crop income loss was ₹211.41 crore.
– A government relief package of ₹38.06 crore compensated for losses on 5,127 hectares but remains insufficient for affected farmers.
– A study revealed rice production shortfalls (32K metric tonnes) due to widespread farmland abandonment amid tensions between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities.

• Security improvements have enabled limited farming along the buffer zone but fears persist after violent incidents like the June shooting of farmer ningthoujam Brojen near phubala village despite nearby security bunkers.
• Farmers in many villages have reported losing access to ancestral lands allegedly captured by Kukis or damaged irrigation systems blocking cultivation efforts. Cattle theft or killing adds further economic distress.
• Ethnic conflict has displaced around 62K individuals; some abandoned homes are now occupied by security camps while others face relocation into prefabricated housing units funded by Manipur Police Housing Corporation Limited.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur highlights deeply rooted challenges tied to land ownership disputes and mistrust between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities exacerbated by violent clashes since May 2023. Agriculture’s centrality as both livelihood and sustenance underscores why disrupted farming remains an urgent issue for long-term recovery efforts across affected districts like Bishnupur.

The presence of multiple security layers reflects efforts at preventing violence yet creates logistical barriers for civilians navigating militarized zones-an indication of how heavily local governance depends on external intervention from Central forces during crises.

Although recent reports suggest gradual progress with coexistence observed between groups during farming under heightened surveillance (e.g., Keithelmanbi area), lingering hostilities threaten fragile stability if assailants exploit current vulnerabilities as witnessed post-June incident near Phubala.

To address compounding grievances-including crop losses worth hundreds of crores-stakeholders should prioritize expediting compensation mechanisms alongside fostering inter-community dialog aimed at de-escalation via shared infrastructural reliance (e.g., irrigation systems). without lasting solutions ensuring access rights or reclaiming blocked farmlands meant restoring trust among historically divided populations risks remaining unfulfilled-a cautionary reminder extending beyond economic implications alone into broader humanitarian stakes.

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