Imphal: At least 268 hectares of land where poppy plantation was widely done earlier will be replaced by other suitable plants for which seeds were released on Friday.
Manipur chief minister N. Biren Singh said this as he flagged off vehicles carrying quality planting material, seeds and sprinklers sets which are to be distributed to registered farmers.
The loaded vehicle was flagged off from horticulture and soil conservation department.
Biren termed the development as a big achievement of the state government’s War on Drugs campaign.
He informed that a mass plantation programme would be held at Churachandpur district on 30th of this month in coordination with various civil society organisations of the district.
Certain areas where poppy plantation was carried out earlier are now cleared by district administration and volunteers for alternative plantation, he said and appreciated the organisations and public for supporting the government’s effort to root out poppy plantation.
He appreciated the horticulture department for putting in their effort in providing alternative plants to the locals and helped bring a change in the mindset of the poppy planters.
The government will also continue to provide incentives to those who come out against the poppy plantation, Biren said.
He sought for public support in the government’s initiative to provide and plant fruit bearing trees suitable to the region in place of poppy plantation which is harmful to the society.
The planting materials and seeds will go directly to 50 farmer producer companies while those carrying sprinklers sets will go through the district offices to be distributed as part of the component of the Micro Irrigation Scheme which is an end to end solution at their level.
The planting materials and seeds are distributed under Phase-III Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER), Manipur while sprinklers sets are being distributed under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY, Horticulture), Manipur.
Biren said timely arrangement and distribution of materials required for farming and agriculture are also very much necessary while fighting the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure adequate food production in the coming year.
The chief minister advised the concerned officials to do field visits in continuation of the Go to Village and Go to Hills missions and regularly update the work carried out by them.
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