agriculture review
by aditya abhishek
Not everyone can cultivate opium in India. Only farmers with a government license are allowed to cultivate poppy for pharmaceutical purposes.
With the introduction of a new licensing policy, around 112,000 farmers can receive licenses for poppy cultivation from 2023 to 2024. (Source: Finance Ministry)
Central Bureau of Narcotics issues the license to eligible farmers in only three states as per the General Conditions relating to the Grant of Licence framed by the Central Government.
Moreover, legal poppy cultivation in India is limited to only three states that are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Around 54,500 farmers from Madhya Pradesh, 47,000 farmers from Rajasthan & 10,500 farmers from Uttar Pradesh are eligible to get poppy cultivation licenses.
Around 80% of the total poppy cultivation area is present in the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh and Chittorgarh and Jhalawar Districts of Rajasthan.
The government of India is increasing the number of licenses to meet the increasing demand for pharmaceutical preparations for domestic use and export purposes.
Pharmaceutical products made from opium are used for surgical analgesia, and treatment of cholera, dysentery, tuberculosis and diarrhea.
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