Farmers from Manipur participating in the Millets and Organic Expo in Bengaluru report a severe impact on the famed black rice, organic turmeric, king chili, and pineapple exports due to the volatile Kuki-Meitei clashes. The state has incurred a significant loss of Rs 40 crore in exports from these products in 2023 alone. Nearly 5 lakh farmers involved in cultivating these goods faced losses, and production units processing pineapple for value-added products experienced disruptions in raw material supply due to supply chain disruptions.
A farmer highlighted that Manipur used to export approximately 30 tonnes of black rice to European nations, but exports have plummeted by at least 60% because of the conflict. Additionally, the supply of pineapples to Gulf nations has been adversely affected. The state had gained a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its black rice in May 2020, and despite exporting one tonne to Europe in August 2021, the ongoing tensions have severely impacted exports of rice, pineapple, and organic ginger.
K Devdutta Sharma, the project director of Manipur Organic Mission Agency, acknowledged the precarious situation, revealing that Imphal, Manipur's capital, used to export 30 tonnes of black rice, 2,000 tonnes of dry turmeric, and 10 tonnes of king chili. Due to the conflict, exports faced a setback, resulting in a Rs 40 crore loss in 2023. The horticulture department estimates an overall loss of Rs 102 crore between May and July 2023, affecting the supply chain to cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi.