The Manipur government has destroyed a total of 19,135.6 acres of illegal poppy cultivation across 12 districts since 2017, according to a recent report.
The study, titled Mapping and Estimation of Opium Poppy Cultivation Area using Remote Sensing and GIS Technology, revealed that the highest destruction occurred in Kangpokpi district, with 4,454.4 acres cleared.
Ukhrul followed with 3,348 acres, and Churachandpur saw the destruction of 2,713.8 acres.
The exercise was carried out by the Manipur Remote Sensing Applications Centre under the Planning Department, with data provided by the ‘Narcotics and Affairs of Border’ wing of the state police.
Other districts that saw significant eradication of poppy cultivation included Tengnoupal (2,575 acres), Chandel (1,982.5 acres), and Senapati (1,682 acres), the report stated.
The study also highlighted a decrease in the area under poppy cultivation in recent years. In 2021-22, the total area of poppy cultivation across nine districts was 28,598.91 acres.
This number dropped significantly to 11,288.1 acres in 2023-24. Between 2023 and 2024, poppy cultivation decreased by 32.13 per cent compared to the previous year, according to the findings.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh had expressed the state government’s determination to eradicate illegal poppy cultivation in Manipur, sharing his commitment in a post on X last month.
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