Letpao Haokip distributes Rabi seeds
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 18 2022:
To provide alternative sources of livelihood to poppy growers and strengthen the War on Drugs campaign, Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Letpao Haokip distributed seeds of Rabi crops for farmers from seven hill districts on September 15 .
The Rabi seeds were distributed during a function held at the training hall of the departmental farm of Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department at Khonghampat.
At the function, Letpao Haokip said that the State has been taking up certain interdepartmental programmes such as "Cultivation of Horticulture Crops as an Alternative to Poppy Cultivation in Hill Areas" to discourage poppy plantations.
He said that the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department has also distributed saplings of low chilling apple, cashew, Kachai lemon, litchi, ginger, turmeric and others to several farmers in the first phase of the programme.
He said that Rabi seeds would be distributed to around 600 farmers from Chandel, Churachandpur, Kamjong, Kangpokpi, Senapati, Tengnoupal, and Ukhrul and the same would be planted in 985 acres of land.
The Minister clarified that the Government didn't acquire any land from the public in the name of the War on Drugs campaign by distributing planting materials.
Saying that incentive would be given to some farmers based on their performance and the Department will assist the farmers in marketing their produce, Letpao added that the Government is also planning to provide saplings of high value plants such as avocado and blueberry to select farmers.
He also urged the Government officials to select the beneficiaries of the wellbeing scheme in a free and fair manner.
Later, the Minister flagged off mini-vans loaded with Ravi seeds for distribution to the farmers of seven districts.