Imphal, May 9 : Manipur’s Churachandpur district is all set for a green revolution minus shifting cultivation. An action plan to take up plantation of tea, coffee and spices was chalked out at a seminar that concluded yesterday at the district headquarters.
The two-day seminar on land-based farming in hill areas of Northeast was held under the initiative of an NGO of the district, Zomi Economic, Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA), with sponsorship from Doner.
The organisation has taken the initiative to find an alternative to jhum (shifting) cultivation, which is considered the main agent for climatic change in Manipur.
Of the state’s total area of 22,327 square km, nearly 5,000 square km is under jhum cultivation. Churachandpur, with 34 per cent of the total land under jhum, tops the list.
Commerce secretary G.K. Pillai and bosses of Tea Board, Coffee Board, Agriculture Produce Export Development Agency and National Horticulture Mission were present at the seminar.
“At the end of the deliberations it was agreed that an action plan would be formulated within a year by ZEPADA in consultation with the commerce ministry and the district administration. If the plan is implemented, Churachandpur could take the lead in bringing about an economic revolution,” the deputy commissioner of the district, A. Sumant Singh, said.
The decision to formulate an action plan to plant tea, coffee and spices could be the foundation of a spice park in Manipur.
“We are willing to set up a spice park in Manipur. Churachandpur has huge potential for umorok (giant and hottest chilli), turmeric, ginger and mint (pudina). We are ready to provide subsidy to the farmers,” R. Chandrashekhar, director of Spices Board said.
The Tea Board also set its sights on the district. In March, a team from the board tested the soil and declared it suitable for tea plantation. “You can form self-help groups with a membership of not less than 50 each and can grow tea on 50 acres of land for starting a tea nursery. We are ready to give the training and provide everything required,” Tea Board chairman Basudev Banerjee said.
The deputy commissioner and the NGO hope that the action plan could change the face of the district as well as Manipur.
Telegraph India
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