MANIPUR: STATE-WIDE MASS PLANTATION DRIVE FROM JUNE; GPS TO TRACK PROGRESS: MINISTER SHYAMKUMAR

Forest and Environment and Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Shri Thounaojam Shyamkumar said his departments have identified the locations where state-wide mass plantation drive will be held from the month of June, under the initiative of Chief Minister’s missions of ‘Go To Village’ and ‘Go To Hills’. He said latest technology will be used to track the development of these plantations.

Thounaojam Shyamkumar today visited the Holenphai and Teenumunjang villages under Tengnoupal district near the Indo-Myanmar border. Minister further said the drive will be video recorded and Geo Tracking System will be used to track progress of the plantations. Forest and Environment and Horticulture and Soil Conservation departments along with the villagers of different districts will collaborate for the mass plantation drive across the State.

Addressing media persons, Thounaojam Shyamkumar said he was hopeful that the mass plantation drive will be able to combat the issue global warming as well as meet the objectives of the State Government’s ‘Go to Village’ and ‘Go to Hills’ missions. Acknowledging that the villagers depend on the forest produces, the departments have come up with the plan for the plantation drive to give an alternative way to earn income for themselves.

He also said different trees along with cash crops will be planted. Agar saplings will be planted along with cash crops including cardamom, cashew, orange, lychee/litchi, yongchak among others. The departments have identified suitable places for Agar plantation like Jirbam, Kamjong and Tengnoupal while Teenumunjang village (Tengnoupal) is suitable for cashew plantation. On the other hand, Kamjong and Senapati are suitable for the Kiwi plantation and Avacado is suitable in Ukhrul, he added.

He further said the Agar tree takes 7-8 years to mature and the farmers/villages can earn upto Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh per tree. Stating that his department will provide saplings for free, he said the farmers/villagers will also be rewarded for the maintenance of trees.

Forest and Environment and Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Shri Thounaojam Shyamkumar further appealed to the people of the State to cooperate with the departments to help in combating the issue of global warming.