IMPHAL, April 7 – Manipur government’s plan to import good variety of rice from Myanmar through Moreh, India’s gateway to the south east Asian countries is likely to suffer a bit as New Delhi has reportedly asked the state government not to import rice from Myanmar. The Centre’s instructions have reportedly been given to the state authorities in the backdrop of the state’s willingness to import rice to weather through the rice crisis in the state. The Union Commerce ministry has categorically stated that the Centre would provide the rice required by the state. The state had submitted a proposal to the Centre for the import of rice from Myanmar last year.
Manipur is at present facing shortage of rice although it produces about 5 lakh metric tonnes in a year against the requirement of six lakh metric tonnes for a population of 24 lakh. The excess requirement has been supplied by the Central Government through Food Corporation of India, Imphal branch. However, mendicant Manipur has been facing more difficulties in production of clean rice. So, import of clean rice from Myanmar is necessitated in the light of shortage of food, particularly rice in the north eastern states in general and Manipur in particular.
Rice imported from across the border through Moreh will make a supplement in the requirement of the NE states having a population of around 40 million which have been facing shortage of clean rice from time to time. Though, Myanmar with a population of around 50 million, is one of the poorest countries in the world, it has surplus rice production.
There are four varieties of high quality rice in Myanmar – Tali, Mobi, Porshan and Tenkishan. Of these the last two varieties of rice have more demand and are illegally brought by smugglers into India through the porous Manipur-Burma border particularly in Moreh sector. The Ministry of Consumers Affairs has sanctioned Rs 58 lakh to construct a 1250 metric ton capacity FCS godown at Moreh of which 50 per cent of the amount is in the form of subsidy while the rest is in the form of a loan. However the Centre has released only Rs 35 lakh after deducting Rs 21 lakh because of the State Government’s failure to clear the loan availed for constructing a godown at Sangaiprou, here.
Manipur Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pheiroijam Parijat said that since the State government is not in a position to construct the godown at Moreh with only Rs 35 lakh, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has been requested not to slash the Rs 21 lakh. However there is as yet no reply from the Centre on the request of the State Government. If the Centre refuses to entertain the request of the State Government then the capacity of the godown may be reduced to 800 tons. Talking to NEPS, the Minister said that the godown is for storage of imported items from Myanmar to the state through Moreh.