Imphal, 16 April 2017 ( Evening News ) : IFCD & YAS minister Letpao Haokip said the Govt is thinking of an alternative means to provide a source of income to people who cultivate poppy to earn their livelihood so that they give up poppy cultivation. He said the State Government has agreed in principle to replace poppy with lemongrass cultivation. The minister was addressing people including leaders of Church and village chiefs at Aihang village in Chandel district yesterday.  He said the Govt is determined to provide an alternative livelihood to poppy cultivators and appealed to the chiefs and leaders of the area to attend awareness and sensitisation programme to be held shortly in Imphal. He also said clearance of large forest areas for poppy cultivation caused soil erosion. The Minister also inspected the site for a mini-stadium at Aihang village to be built under NLCPR.