Farming Under Guns in Manipur’s ‘Buffer Zone’

• Villages in Manipur’s ‘buffer zone’, separating the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley from the Kuki-Zo people, have been struggling to cultivate their fields since the May 2023 ethnic conflict.

• Khoirentak Khuman, a village of about 100 Kom tribal families, is located in this zone, a strip of farmland separating the two communities.

• Despite the Bishnupur district administration’s efforts, few Meitei villagers managed to pass the first security barrier until June 22.

• The situation has been similar for the Kuki-Zo people beyond the BSF barrier.

Impact of Conflict on Paddy Farmers in Imphal Valley, India

• Over 2 lakh farmers cultivate paddy on 1.95 lakh hectares out of the net cultivable area of 2.34 lakh hectares.

• Farmers’ body estimates that crops on 9,719 hectares on the periphery of Imphal Valley could be lost due to sporadic firing by miscreants from the hills.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs provided a relief package of ₹38.06 crore for crop losses on 5,127.08 hectares of farmland towards the end of 2023.

• The volatile situation forced 62 villages on the fringes of the valley to leave 3,973 hectares fallow.

• The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum chose not to react to allegations that the Kukis have taken over the lands of the Meitei or targeted their cattle.