Around 18,501 acres of poppy plantation destroyed – CM Biren

Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by SPN Editor

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren responded to a question raised by MLA Paolienlal Haokip by stating that 18,501 acres of the poppy plantation had already been destroyed as a result of the War on Drugs.

In locations where the poppy plantation was previously done, the government has begun supplying seeds of several crops for cultivation since 2019–20.

The State Government, through the Planning Department, has submitted a project proposal to the Ministry of DoNER titled “Alternative livelihood for poppy farmers with permanent (terraced) production on jhum lands using an integrated approach in the hill districts of Manipur,” said CM Biren.

There is no plan to rehabilitate all of the poppy growers, but he said that providing some humanitarian aid is another issue.

According to MLA Paolienlal Haokip, many people who worked as laborers in the poppy industry are now dealing with a variety of challenges as a result of the poppy plantation’s closure.

The MLA then asked the government for assistance with these workers’ means of subsistence.

The Chief Minister responded by stating that the Government has been trying to deter the hill people from engaging in deforestation operations by attempting to provide them with livelihoods through various programs.

JICA would provide the State Government with a sum of Rs 1300 crore, and the State Government has been planning to use these funds to discourage hill people from engaging in deforestation activities, switch shifting or jhum cultivation to terraced cultivation, and safeguard forests, Biren added.