Photo Courtesy: nenews
Imphal: A new agricultural initiative in Manipur has reached a significant milestone, with farmers in the Churachandpur district completing their first harvest of green peas. Known as Project Hinichi, this joint effort between the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Manipur Police provides local farmers with sustainable alternatives to illicit poppy cultivation.
The project has successfully assisted 124 households in transitioning to legal farming practices. In a statement posted to social media, the Manipur Police described the achievement as an "important step towards strengthening local communities, improving livelihoods and promoting a drug-free future."
This initiative serves as a core component of the state government's ongoing efforts to address the widespread issue of poppy farming in hill districts like Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Ukhrul, and Senapati. For years, these areas have been the focus of an intensive War on Drugs campaign, which has involved the destruction of hundreds of acres of illegal crops by a coalition of state and central security forces.
Beyond providing alternative livelihoods, authorities are continuing their enforcement operations to dismantle the illicit trade. Security agencies, including the Assam Rifles, the Central Reserve Police Force, and the Border Security Force, remain active in destroying processing camps and seizing agricultural equipment used in illegal cultivation. Officials are also filing formal reports against individuals linked to the trade to deter future participation in poppy farming.
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