It is worth pointing out that several women folks of Hungpung village have planted different varieties of crop species and vegetables of which potato, beans, corn and cabbage were the worst affected.

Speaking exclusively to the Imphal Free Press on Tuesday, Chuihaola KS, a farmer from Kaziphung tang Hungpung, who is also chairperson of Kaziphung Self Help Group Federation, lamented that unknown worms have severely destroyed massive potatoes, beans, corn and cabbage they had planted in their farms.

In a few weeks’ time, we would be cultivating our potatoes and beans. However, the magnitude of the worm fury was such that the sweat, energy and labour the mothers (Imas) have shed have been turned upside down much to our dismay, Chuihaola bemoaned adding that there would be no harvest for them this year.

She continued that the women farmers have never experienced worm attack in their farms before and added that they are facing this catastrophe for the first time.

“I have apprised this sudden and usual destruction to our farm plantations to the Ukhrul agriculture officer at the one-day farmers interaction programme held today. I was told by the concerned officer that the worms which had destroyed our plants have been identified as ‘fall army worms’ and are not a new worm”, the SHG chairperson said.

She then appealed to the concerned authorities, especially the Government of Manipur to promptly look into the pressing issue facing the farmers of the village.

Informing IFP late Tuesday night, Makreilwon, who is a farmer of Hungpung village said that like her many farmers have lost a massive chunk of their farmlands due to unknown worms’ attack.

The worms’ infestations to the standing plant are so much that they have destroyed almost all the green plants in addition to what they have planted.