Manipur rebels ban onion, potato imports

TNN Apr 9, 2012 | IMPHAL: The underground United Revolutionary Front (URF) has decided to ban import of agricultural and tobacco products to Manipur from other states.

A statement of the outfit, issued to media houses a few days ago, said the decision was taken by its 'central committee' considering it as quite essential to lay emphasis on development of a "self-reliant economy" in Manipur in view of the ongoing revolutionary movement in the land.
Under its "economic policy", the first step of URF is to put a ban on import and sale of betel leaves, tobacco leaves and allied products like cigarette, khaini and guthka in the state from June 18. From August 13, the outfit will ban flow of all vegetable items, including potatoes, onions, chilly and garlic to Manipur from other parts of India, it said.

Signed by the outfit's information and publicity secretary AK Pibarel, the statement appealed to people to accept the decision of the outfit as a gift and focus on a better future.

Emphasizing the need to undergo double cropping, the statement urged the farmers to cultivate other varieties of crops in fields left unused after harvesting seasonal crops like rice. It also urged the people to maintain a work culture for a better future. It said the time has come for the people of Manipur to move forward and join the new peasants' movement to save a huge amount of money from being going outside.

According to the outfit, experts and agriculture scientists in Manipur should share their expertise and provide remote sensing data of land to farmers to ensure production of quality food.

Source: TOI