Ukhrul village backs 'WoD', seeks support
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, March 13 2023: The villagers of Khamasom Phungdhar in Ukhrul district have pledged to support the 'War on Drugs' campaign spearheaded by chief minister N Biren.

In a joint release, Khamasom Phungdhar Village Committee (KPVC) chairman R Chihanpam, assembly affairs secretary Rs Shangkahao and speaker W Will-son emphasised that the villagers are devoted to safeguarding their village s future and maintaining its cultural customs while urging the government, NGOs and other stakeholders to support their cause and aid them in achieving their objectives.

Khamasom Phungdhar is known for its hilly terrain, rich biodiversity, and vibrant culture.

It is also known for preserving the only virgin forest in Northeast India.

The village is considered to be one of the remotest and underdeveloped villages in the district and is located north of the district headquarters of Ukhrul between India-Myanmar Border Pillar Numbers 124 and 125, it added.

KPVC also mentioned that the villagers have made short-term as well as long-term plans to support the 'War on Drugs' campaign.

Their goal is to safeguard their village's future while preserving their natural resources and cultural heritage.

They are aware that encouraging and aiding alternate forms of livelihoods is essential to deter poppy farming.

The economy of Khamasom Phungdhar is primarily based on agriculture and horticulture.

So, cultivation of agriculture and horticulture crops including millets, Job's tears, maize, vegetables and rearing of honeybees and indigenous pig breed of Khamasom known as 'Hao Hok' are all part of the shortterm strategy, it maintained.

The Committee continued that 'Hao Hok' is being reared since the establishment of Tangkhul community, so it is closely related to the Tangkhul culture.

It is a local indigenous breed of pigs that weigh about 30-40 kg and its meat is remarkable for its flavour.

However, it has been disregarded by many farmers because of its low productivity.

The outbreak of pig deaths every year left the villagers, in a vulnerable position since pigs are one of the significant sources of income in the village.

Presently, 'Hao Hok' is in danger of extinction, as the number of pigs reared in the area has drastically decreased.

Hence, it is high time to preserve 'Hao Hok' to save the economy and more research needed to increase productivity, management and preservation, it asserted.

KPVC also mentioned that planting sustainable crops like avocado, coffee, bamboo, and others is part of the long-term strategy.

The locals understand that sustainable agriculture is essential to the village's development and economic success.

These Crops will benefit the communities in the long run and contribute to a sustainable economy.

The villagers are dedicated to making the shortterm and long-term strategies successful in order to realise their vision of having a village free of poppy, it further stressed.

The Committee conveyed that locals are aware of the damaging effects of poppy farming on society and the environment, including soil erosion, deforestation, and the potentially fatal health effects of opium addiction.

Together, they have decided to eradicate poppy from their community and take aggressive measures to deal with these problems.

The people have already begun growing alternative crops in an effort to make this short-term strategy a success.

Recently, Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) project director K Debadutta Sharma visited the avocado farms of 10,000 plants in Khamasom, where they have already taken initiative for alternative livelihoods to poppy cultivation.

The plan is to cultivate more than 50,000 avocado plants this year, it stated.

KPVC also noted that Ukhrul MLA Ram Muivah had put forth a proposal during the Manipur Assembly session held on March 2 to include Khamasom village in the budget of Rs 260 crore allotted for an alternative livelihood plan for poppy cultivation.

To protect their natural resources, the locals have taken up specific measures including prohibition on fishing from Chama/Challou river using toxic chemicals, electronic devices and other non-traditional methods.

Moreover, the village has put in place measures to prevent forest fires as the inhabitants are aware that bushfires may permanently harm their environment and natural resources.

The villagers have also resolved to impose fine of Rs 50,000 on anyone caught indulging in such activities and decided that the individual concerned shall be held accountable for defying the village's decisions, it said.

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