POPPY
CULTIVATION - AGRICULTURE
News: Uncertain future in a sea of poppies
What's
in the news?
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Three districts in Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan together contribute to 80% of India’s opium production.
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Already facing the problem of stagnant
procurement rates and rising input prices, farmers are now angry with the Union
government for opening opium production and processing to private players.
Poppy
Plant:
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The opium poppy plant (Papaver
somniferous) serves as the origin of opium
gum, which comprises crucial alkaloids like morphine, codeine, and thebaine.
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Morphine stands out as a highly effective
analgesic, particularly in cases of severe and agonizing pain, such as that
experienced by terminally ill cancer patients. In such instances, nothing provides
relief quite like morphine.
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Codeine is frequently employed in the
production of cough syrups.
Opium
Cultivation in India:
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India is one of the few countries that legally grows opium poppies.
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India is the only country which legally
produces opium gum.
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Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 empowers the
Central Government to permit and regulate cultivation of opium poppy for
medical and scientific purposes.
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The Government of India notifies the
tracts where opium cultivation can be licensed as well as the General
Conditions for issuance of license every year.
Areas
under Poppy Cultivation:
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The Central
Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) under the Narcotics
Commissioner issues licenses to the farmers to cultivate opium poppy.
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Opium cultivation is permitted in the
notified tracts in the states of Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
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Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh and
Chittorgarh and Jhalawar Districts of Rajasthan constitute about 80% of the
total area.