[ Bagiso Hakung ]

The opium harvest season is over here in Lohit & Anjaw, and other  Districts. It is mainly harvested from January to March, while cultivation usually begins around September and October.

For decades, the government has viewed it as a major threat, and many educated voices have also advocated for its Eradication or replacement. Either way, most people want it to disappear.

But as a dweller of this region, I have closely observed something interesting: society becomes extremely serious about the issue only during the harvesting season. The rest of the year remains silent like a “stilled lake” – no comments, no cries, no movements.

Perhaps people become busy sowing ginger, pumpkin, and other Kharif cash crops, and forget about the existence of opium.

Ironically, this silent period should be the noisiest and most active phase. This is the time when the government should take meaningful measures to support local farmers. NGOs and CBOs should be advocating alternative cultivation methods, promoting advanced farming practices, and gradually transforming the opium-dependent economy into a healthier agricultural economy and young minds and unemployed youths should be counselled about the job possibilities in Private sectors and business opportunities through various initiatives.

Raising voices only when seeds are already sown, or when opium fields are fully grown, most of the time leads to mass dissatisfaction, frustration, and confusion among the laymen and farmers. People become bitter and impatient during destruction drives because such actions directly affect their calculated income,living standards, and speculative savings.

Interestingly, the Government, NGOs, and CBOs can use this off-season period to conduct proper research and analysis. They can study the correlation between: ”Planned and systematic transformation through training, awareness, and alternative livelihood initiatives” vs ” Sudden destruction of opium cultivation without economic rehabilitation” and evaluate their long-term impact on farmers and the rural economy.

I believe the issue needs innovation, reformation, scientific planning, and practical solutions not just seasonal outrage and attention.

Discussions, constructive approaches and Guidance will uplift the lifestyles. Therefore for the betterment of the opium-affected and rural agrarian society the government and civil society must use the Brain & Wisdom simultaneously.  (The contributor is social activist based in Hayum,  Anjaw Dist)