Alternatives to illegal poppy plantation deliberated
Source: The Sangai Express

Kangpokpi, March 27 2023: The inaugural function of the two-day international seminar on "Alternatives to Illegal Opium Poppy Cultivation in Northeast India: Alternative Livelihood Imperatives" organised by the Department of Political Science & Human Rights, IGNTU-RCM was held at the central auditorium of IGNTU-RCM, Makhan village, Kangpokpi today.

A press release issued by IGNTU-RCM has noted that the seminar was sponsored by the North Eastern Council, Shillong, Government of India.

The seminar was graced by Professor N Rajmuhan Singh, Vice Chancellor of Dhanamanjuri University; Dr H Birkumar Singh, Senior Principal Scientist & Professor of AcSIR, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Branch Laboratory, Lamphelpat and Gautam Mukhopadhaya, CPR Fellow and former Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Afghanistan and Syria and Professor Ng Ngalengnam, Director, IGNTU-RCM graced the seminar as the presidium members.

Alternatives to illegal poppy plantation deliberated

In his keynote address, Professor Ch Priyoranjan Singh, Department of Economics, Manipur University highlighted the issue of ecological disaster, agrarian crisis, changing economic livelihood and Manipur Government's initiatives on "War on Drugs" .

He asserted that in the context of Manipur, one needs to understand the features of tribal economy.

There are structural and institutional problems associated with land ownership patterns in the hill areas and in such a scenario, tribal scholars and academicians have been demanding land reforms wherein individual ownership is allowed.

He also highlighted that the drivers for poppy cultivation are poverty, weak state, infrastructure deficit, conflict, lack of assets and livelihood alternatives.

The speaker emphasized on the need to have a deep knowledge on the structure of the economy of the hill region.

Without it, it will be hard to understand the issues of tribal economy and eradicate poppy cultivation in the State, he said.

Professor H Birkumar Singh emphasized on the way anthropogenic pressure causes poppy cultivation.

To overcome it, he suggested focusing on targeting human resource development.

He also suggested setting up eco-tourism as one of the options to overcome poppy cultivation.

Speaking on the occasion, Gautam Mukhopadhya linked the increase in internal conflict, unstable and weak governance with increase in the cultivation and production of poppy in Myanmar.

He emphasized a holistic approach, reviving indigenous crops, focusing on aggregate models and on diverse plantations.

Professor N Rajmuhan Singh highlighted the excess use of chemicals leading to a deterioration of biodiversity.

He stressed on medicinal plantation as an alternative means of livelihood.

The inauguration function was followed by a plenary session after which a technical session ensued.

Six resource persons participated as panelists in the plenary session entitled, "Opium Cultivation, Land, Displacement, Migration, Drugs Menace & Narco-terrorism in NE India" .

The technical session was chaired by Professor L Lam Khan Piang, Department of Sociology, University of Hyderabad, Telangana wherein five resource persons presented papers.