Imphal, Manipur [India], June 25 (HornbillTv): Chief Minister N. Biren Singh today flagged off vehicles carrying quality planting material, seeds and sprinklers sets which are to be distributed to registered farmers from Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department, Government of Manipur. 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.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh stated that timely arrangement and distribution of materials required for farming and agriculture are necessary while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure adequate food production in the coming year.

He also expressed happiness on learning that a 268 hectares of land where poppy plantation was widely done earlier will be replaced by other suitable plants for which seeds was distributed today and termed it as a big achievement of the State Government’s War on Drugs Campaign. He also informed that a mass plantation programme would be held at Churachandpur District on the 30th of this month in coordination with various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) of the district. Certain areas where poppy plantation was carried out earlier are now cleared by District Administration and volunteers for alternative plantation. He also appreciated the CSOs and public for supporting the Government effort to root out poppy plantation.

The Chief Minister asked concerned officials to do field visits in continuation of the Go to Village and Go to Hills missions of the Government and regularly update the work carried out by them.

The programme was organized by Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation and also attended by Agriculture Minister Oinam Lukhoi, Additional Chief Secretary (Horticulture & Soil Conservation) P. Vaiphei, Commissioner (Agriculture) and M. Joy and Project Director, MOMA Shri K. Devdutta Sharma.