Govt provides alternative to poppy plantation
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, May 17 2022:
As part of chief minister N Biren Singh's War on Drugs campaign, several government agencies and departments have been cohesively working together to control the drug menace and fully destroy poppy plantations from the state.
The Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department along with the Manipur Organic Mission Agency (MOMA) has been majorly involved in the campaign by providing alternative means of livelihood against poppy cultivation to villages from where poppy plantation has been destroyed.
Peh in Ukhrul district is one village where the department has initiated implementation of the alternative means of livelihood against poppy plantation.
A team of officials from the Horticulture & Soil Conservation Department and MOMA visited the village to inspect the village for implementation of alternative livelihood in the village.
Peh village chairman Moon Shimray said that considering the ill effects of poppy plantation on the society, future generations, and youth, the Peh Village Council had destroyed poppy plantations taken up by some local youths in their area some years back.
Contented with the action of the village, chief minister N Biren had awarded the village with an amount of Rs 10 lakh, he said, adding that a market shed was also constructed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.
Further lauding the present government under N Biren, Shimray said that under the guidance of the chief minister, apple saplings are also provided to the village and plantation will begin if possible before June.
He also thanked MOMA for identifying and providing funds to around 100 beneficiaries (10 groups).
These beneficiaries will begin kiwi plantations at the earliest, he added.
With these initiatives, the chief minister has shown that the brotherhood between the hills and the valley is not just in words but also in action.
Further stating that the village is fortunate to receive all the attention, Shimray said that the villagers are working very hard to ensure success with the alternative means of livelihood provided by the government and further sought further cooperation from the department.
District officer of Horticulture & Soil Conservation Ukhrul and Kamjong, Yeite Khupsorel Koireng on Tuesday informed that officials of the department are in the village to inspect the village for implementation of the alternative means of livelihood against poppy cultivation in the village.
He said that around February last year, leaders and villagers of Peh village highlighted to the chief minister the presence of poppy plantations in their village and the subsequent destruction of the cultivation.
Following this, the chief minister expressed the desire to take up some alternative plantations as means of livelihood in the area, he added.
Yeite Khupsorel further informed that the villagers have already started planting vegetables like maize instead of poppy plantations in their area and that they are producing ginger abundantly.
He further assured to provided means to market the ginger at the earliest.
He continued that during an inspection with the village leaders, the official team has found that preparation for long-term plantation of fruit bearing trees like apple and kiwi has been made by.
the villagers.
The district officer also said that the department will launch a scheme in the village with a cost of Rs 50 lakh and sought support and cooperation from the village for the successful implementation of the scheme.
He appealed to the village against poppy plantations in the future also and assured all other assistance including the provision of seasonal seeds and fruit saplings.
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