After dealing with severe locust attack, villagers of Khambi adopt organic farming

Villagers are spending sleepless nights to save their crops from locust attack.
After dealing with severe locust attack, villagers of Khambi adopt organic farming
IMPHAL
In an effort to save their crops from the locust attack, the villagers of Khambi in Kamjong district of Manipur are spending sleepless nights, handpicking the invading swarm of pests in their paddy fields.

The villagers in Khambi has adopted organic farming as their main source of livelihood of the people after dealing with severe locust attack. The village has over 100 households with a total of over 600 people.

90% of the total population of this remote village depends on agriculture as their main occupation for livelihood. The recent locust attack in the fields has spread fear among the villagers and they are worried that they would have to reap the fruit of their labour this year.

Speaking on the locust attacks, a villager said, ''the locust species are native to the place, the number has increased to such an extent that the attack is getting out of control. The locusts are easier to catch during the night as they are clustered together and less active during that time. A person can catch around 1000 locusts at a time.''

During the entire day, the villagers release chickens in their paddy fields to feed on the active pests which as impossible to catch. However, their efforts seemed ineffective as the number of locusts continues to rise.

Frustrated with the situation, the villagers have adopted organic farming under the organic mission initiative of the state government.

Lately, the villagers have sought the intervention of the department concerned to control the invasion and the destruction of their crops by the locusts.

According to official data, Khambi is partially connected by Ukhrul-Phungyar state highway and Shangshak-Yairipok district road. The village is known for its reserved natural environment and rich biodiversity.

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