Poppy Fetches More Moolah in Remote Manipur

By K Sarojkumar Sharma

Imphal, May 25 : Ganja and poppy cultivation continues to flourish in the remote corners of Manipur despite untiring efforts by government agencies and anti-drug organizations to contain narcotics smuggling.

Interestingly, most people living in these areas have abandoned ganja and switched over to poppy as the latter gives more profit, said drug analysts. According to them, poppy growers in Manipur fetch about Rs 30,000 from 400 square meters of land where it is cultivated.

For ganja, the price of one kg of the plant ranges from Rs 150 to Rs 200 at the spot. It shoots up to Rs 500 in Imphal. The amount jumps to Rs 5000 when it reaches either West Bengal or Bihar, they said. Drug mafia from different countries like China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal invest a huge amount of money in poppy plantation and that Manipur's soil is very suitable for cultivating high-quality poppy and ganja.

Ukhrul, Chandel and Churachandpur districts bordering Myanmar are the places from where large-scale poppy cultivation has been reported recently. Ganja mainly comes from Ukhrul, Senapati and Imphal East districts.

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials here said they have got reports that crude products of poppy grown in Manipur are smuggled out to the notorious Golden Triangle through the porous India-Myanmar border. Under Section 48 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act, the NCB is empowered to attach and destroy poppy plants among other narcotic substances, the officials added.

Located in hilly areas covering small portions of four Southeast Asian countries - Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam - the Golden Triangle is one of Asian's two major illicit opium/heroin-producing areas.

The NCB, state police's Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) department, Customs, Assam Rifles, Army and NGOs like the All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (Amada) have been playing a key role in destroying ganja and poppy since the last few years. Besides these activities, The Amada has also organized awareness camps and meetings at the cultivation sites.

"Because of our efforts, some peasants have begun cultivating maize, cereals and other vegetables," said Amada secretary (organization) K Meghachandra on Tuesday.