Horticulture Dept experiments two crops
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 08 2018: Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department has been experimenting with two cash crops to see that they can substitute jhum cultivation and poppy plantation in the State.

The department has been cultivating Chia and Quinoa crops in the hill areas of the State on experimental basis.

These crops which originated from South America have high nutritional values and they are expected to generate decent income for farmers, said Agriculture Officer N Ningthemjao during a press conference organised by DIPR at their Moirangkhom complex today.

The United Nations celebrated 2013 as the International Year of Quinoa and the same crop has been cultivated in some hill areas of the State under the sponsorship of the North Eastern Council (NEC).

If Quinoa is found suitable to the soil of Manipur, farmers can earn not less than Rs 10 lakh in a year from one pari, Ningthemjao said.

The department's initiative is aimed at promoting Chia and Quinoa plantation permanently in place of jhum cultivation, Ningthemjao added.

Horticulture Project Officer N Devdutta said that 3000 farmers have been cultivating ginger, garlic, orange, pineapple and U-Morok over 3000 hectares while Chak-Hao is cultivated over 2000 hectares under the Organic Mission at the initiative of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department.

Even though different produces produced in the State under the Organic Mission have not been fully certified as organic produces, plans are afoot to sell Chak-Hao through e-auction, Devdutta said.

The total ginger production for this year is estimated to be around 400 metric tonnes.

Due arrangements have been made to sell ginger to firms based outside the State once it is harvested, he said.

Horticulture Director K Kipgen said that an organic outlet has been opened at the department's Sanjenthong office.

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