Best farmer awards distributed in Manipur

 IMPHAL, July 7 – Nongthombam Brojendro of Awang Potshangbam Khunou in Manipur’s Imphal West district was awarded this year’s best farmer of the State prize. Brojendro, who produced 10,773.42 kg of paddy per hectare was also presented a power tiller.

The second prize went to Thokchom Romeo of Kakching Ningthou Leikai, who produced 10,721.86 kg of paddy per hectare. He was given a Kamco power reaper while one Asem Priyokumar of Wangoo Sandangkhong village received the third prize and a Kirlosker water pump for producing 10,573.86 kg of paddy per hactare.

However, Priyokumar has questioned the decision of the Agriculture department. “How come they gave me the third prize?” He had recently received the national ‘Krishi Karma Award 2012-13’ which carries a cash award of Rs 1 lakh and a memento. He has a paddy production record of 11,800 kilogram per hectare in 2012-13.

The prizes to the highest crop producing farmers of all the nine districts of the State were also distributed during a function held at the State Agriculture Directorate premises on Saturday. The best farmers at the district level were given a cash prize of Rs 30,000 each.

Agriculture Minister Md Abdul Nasir, Agriculture Commissioner Rajesh Agrawal and Agriculture Director S Gunija attended the function.