When Poppy takes over rice
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 28 , 2014 -
Flowers of drug: Poppy plants in full bloom :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao
On February 26, most newspapers published in Imphal carried a news report on how the people in remote border villages under Khengjoy sub-division of Chandel district have turned their back to the traditional agricultural practices of producing rice and other seasonal vegetables and taken up cultivation of Poppy in a big way despite knowing it is illegal.
The news report quoted the villagers as claiming that they have taken up cultivation of Poppy out of necessity for sustenance as the soil and climate of the region is not suitable to cultivation of rice and vegetables any more.
As this report has come in the backdrop of the on-and-of drive of destroying illegal Poppy cultivation here and there by the enforcing agencies with the help of some NGO activists, we can’t help but to wonder over the hollowness of such claims made by the Poppy cultivators as well as the law enforcing agencies.
While the claim of the villagers that the soil and climatic condition in their villages is not suitable for growing rice and other food crops like earlier is simply an understatement as the fertility of the soil and climatic condition of Manipur is unmatched anywhere, that of the claim of law enforcing agencies over destruction of illegal poppy cultivations in different parts of the State has only shown that they have a long way to go and what they have achieved is just a wee bit that does not befit for making so much noise.
The truth is that villagers in remote border areas of the State, where there is hardly of any sign of Government machineries at work, have taken to cultivation of Poppy illegally simply because it is a lucrative business and not because of any absence of alternative livelihood and reduced in the fertility of soil.
Even if we assume that the villagers have no inkling about the legality or illegality of their activities, Poppy cultivation in Manipur becoming a booming business today having direct link with the drug manufacturing units in the infamous Golden Triangle.
Unlike in three India States namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh where the Government of India legalises cultivation of Poppy in limited designated areas for medicinal purposes along with issuing license and proper monitoring, the thriving Poppy cultivation in Manipur has been possible because of the involvement of high and mighty.
This is a fact even the law enforcing agencies, particularly, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is well aware of.
So, launching a drive here and there in a year and then claiming so much acres or hectares of illegal Poppy cultivation have been destroyed through media is not going to help in clearing Manipur of its illegal and wide-spread Poppy cultivation.
The drive against illegal Poppy cultivation should be a consistent effort throughout the year, considering that fact that the Oriental and peony flowered poppies, which are widely grown in Manipur today have no specific climate for growing and the seeds that remained even after the plants were uprooted could survive and bloom anytime.
Lastly, let all of us not forget about the high price we have to pay when cultivation of rice, the staple food of the people, is completely taken over by Poppy.
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