Late monsoon delays jhum plantation, Famine expected next year

Khonumthung News: 16 May, 2005

Famine is expected in the coming year as people residing along Indo-Burma border are forced to delay jhum cultivation because of the delayed monsoon.

A villager said, “Famine is expected next year.” He continued that most families did not have food stocks and have to scrounge from other people, while some people had gone to Mizoram, India to earn and support their families.

Families in Chin state of people working in foreign countries have support. But the families who have no member abroad have begun to starve, report our sources.

Because the villagers could not go in for jhum cultivate they came over to Mizoram to work wherever they could. Some receive pay regularly while some have to wait for their contractors to pay their wages.

The poorer families have been collecting wild colocasia antiquorum as food. Some families hoping to harvest despite the late monsoon, are left with no hope as rats and birds eat up the crops.

In a counter measure, the state government of Mizoram has taken all necessary precautions to prevent a famine next year. The military government in Burma across the border, however has initiated no such steps

A Village Peace and Development Council (VPDC) member told Khonumthung, “The military government gives no relief in the event of famine, instead we have been feeding the government.”

Delayed monsoon is a sign of impending famine as is the flowering and bearing of fruit by bamboo plants. Apprehension of famine next year is common among people of Chin state.

The rats from Chin state have been spilling over to Mizoram state. The Mizoram authorities have issued an order to kill as many rats as possible.

Another report says that a rat as large as a cat has been seen in a Mizoram village. The authorities have promised a reward of Rs. 1000 to any one who can kill it.

Chin state and the government of Burma have taken no precaution to counter the famine expected next year.