Opium cultivation in India? What’s that?

The Spices Board of India, a regulatory body for production, sale, import and export of spices, does not have an idea about the extent of Khas Khas being sold by poppy cultivators in Maharashtra.

The board officials say the directorate of agriculture has not provided them with any statistics in this regard.

Details received from the board reveals that the data they obtained from the directorate of agriculture has no production figures. It further says that this is one item that India imports mainly from Turkey. During 2010-2011, India imported 9,050 tonnes which has a value of Rs12,763.93 lakh.

Moreover, cultivation of poppy even as a spice without license is illegal as per the provision of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and Rules, 1985, the spice board officials clarified. Khas Khas in India is a licensed crop since the latex of the mature fruit is collected for the production of opium, a narcotic substance. Since it is extracted from opium, many farmers who are cultivating it claim that it is for domestic needs.

Many farmers also claim that it is an annual crop and the requirement of Khas Khas increases during the festive season.