IMPHAL, October 31: With the State government intending to launch its `Make in Manipur` campaign on the opening day of the Sangai Festival 2015, an official team today inspected the lemon grass plantation side at Top Chingtha today.
The team included lead bank SBI chief manager N Haozel, deputy manager Farm sector technical officer, Horticulture N Devchandra, in-charge Library Documentation and Information Science CAU Prof O Nirmal Kumar and Technical Consultant Department of Commerce and Industries Prof AK Mudgal.
The team visited and inspected the plantation site at Topokpi Ching in Top Chingtha under Andro constituency.
Speaking to media persons in the sideline of the tour, Top Chingtha Entrepreneur Union Top Chingtha Yairipok chairman Keisam Ningthemjao said the government has decided to launch the Make in Manipur campaign on November 21.
He said the project had targeted to grow lemon grass in 1000 acres of land, but as of now only 210 acres have been covered.
Labourers are paid Rs 250 a day and the land of 210 farmers has been taken under lease for 25 years for the project, he said.
The main objective, he said is to produce a ton of lemon grass per acre and to harvest the plantations three times in a year.
He said the lemon grass can be used as a medicinal plant as well as to extract oil to prepare cosmetics and other itmes.
Prof Nirmal Kumar said the lemon grass has already received approval and certified by the Central Institution of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Lucknow for its nedicinal value.
Plantation of this grass can help the farmers to improve their economic well-being he added.
At the same time, the plant will prevent soil erosion, he said.