Khonsa, May 18: As a part of the ‘Alternative to Opium’ programme which is an initiative to encourage the farmers of Tirap district to take up cultivation of cash crops, vegetable gardening and other commercial crops like large cardamom instead of opium, District Horticulture Officer (DHO) Henrik Basar on May 15 last distributed 13 varieties of vegetable seeds at Lazu.
While distributing the seeds, DHO briefed the ill effects of opium on health and society and encouraged the farmers to engage in growing these cash crops and vegetables as an alternative to opium. He also advised them to follow the preventive guidelines of Covid-19 pandemic while working in farms. HDO Tolong Sumnyan and public leader Phawang Lowang exhorted  the farmers to take up vegetable gardening seriously for their economic upliftment. On May 16, vegetable seeds were distributed at Barap by the Department of Horticulture and areca nut, orange seedlings, banana suckers and black pepper cuttings were distributed to the farmers under CMSKY.
It is relevant to mention that state government launched the Chief Minister Sashakt Kisan Yojana (CMSKY) with an objective to uplift the state’s farm economy and attain the national vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. Under CMSKY in 2019-20 various schemes were allotted to the Department of Horticulture in all districts and in Tirap the schemes undertaken were Area Expansion Programme for orange garden, banana garden, areca nut intercropped with black pepper and 'Alternative to Opium' programme. DIPRO    

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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