Imphal, July 3 -- Manipur's valley districts are facing the threat of a severe agricultural setback as delayed monsoon rains and inadequate irrigation infrastructure leave vast paddy fields dry, disrupting the ongoing Kharif cultivation season. With transplantation delayed well into July, farmers fear a sharp decline in rice production and growing risks to food security.

While farmers in the hill districts of Ukhrul and Tamenglong have benefited from timely rainfall and are progressing with Kharif cultivation, the situation in the state's valley regions, particularly Thoubal district, remains grim. Large stretches of farmland have turned parched due to the delayed arrival of the monsoon, leaving cultivators unable to begin the crucial pa...