Imphal: Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday admired the commitment of a successful tribal farmer after turning to orange farming after having abdicated the illegal works in poppy plantations.
The admiration came after a poppy planter, namely Akui, turned into an orange farmer who had started orange harvesting at his orchards in Makulongdi hill ranges in Manipur’s Senapati district on Thursday.
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Manipur CM in a statement said, “The shift from poppy cultivation to orange farming is a noteworthy transformation. The successful inclusion of these oranges in the Organic Outlet of the Horticulture Department in Imphal, with upcoming marketing ventures in Imphal and New Delhi, marks a commendable achievement.”
“In Makuilongdi, Senapati district, a dedicated farmer triumphs in cultivating Tamenglong Oranges, showcasing the admirable commitment of our farmers in reshaping the state’s economy through agriculture,” the CM added.
The orange farmer said that he started an orange plantation with assistance from the Horticulture Department of the Manipur government about 4/5 years back.
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He had earlier planted poppy. Now around 600 orange plants are growing of which around 100 plants started bearing fruits these seasons.
He is expected to collect around Rs. 1.5 lakh from these oranges.
Officials said that the state government has purchased these orange products for use in various developmental activities.