The recent crackdowns on 10 acres of poppy fields in Sangli district of Maharashtra has shifted focus on the controversial issue of legalising opium farming in the state. Farmers’ associations have decided to go on a protest march on March 9 to press for their demands. Speak Up delves deeper into the issue
Legalising poppy farming will not resolve the issue of farmer suicides
The statement of the farmers’ associations that opium cultivation is legalised in three states, therefore it must be allowed in Maharashtra, is wrong. In these three states, the cultivation of opium is done on only 60,000 acres under strict government supervision. Poppy is produced to cater to the country’s medicinal needs.
If legalised, it can be misused by opium producers as well as others. Opium is a highly addictive substance. Even today, in border areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan, thousands of people are addicted to opium.
The Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana’s demand to legalise opium cultivation is out of desperation. They have a legitimate demand from the point of view of economic returns on normal crop cultivation. They are making these demands to draw the government’s attention. The country’s poppy requirement is very small, so the issue of farmer suicides cannot be resolved by legalising opium cultivation.
—Abhay Bang, director, Society for Education Action and Research in Community Health
If it is legalised, I doubt whether govt will be able to control the malpractices
I disagree with the farmers’ demand that the government must legalise opium cultivation in the state. Opium cultivation is legal in three states in our country and it is enough.
For those who are in the illegal narcotic drug business, opium is big money; and if it is legalised, I doubt whether the government will be able to control the malpractices.
Legalising opium cultivation means the farmers will have to get a government licence for farming. But there will always be a possibility of misuse. Why go for cultivation of such a poison when it has so many bad effects.
—Anil Awchat, founder, Muktangan De-addiction Centre
Opium in small amounts is medicine, but in large quantities it is poison
An alkaloid called morphine is found in abundance in opium plants. Morphine is used to derive narcotic drugs like heroine and brown sugar through hydrolysis. Therefore, the cultivation of this plant is banned by the Maharashtra government under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Since opium is a cash crop for farmers, they can cultivate it with government permission. Why do they cultivate it secretly? Opium plant has a medicinal value, but not in its crude form. Earlier, in rural areas, opium tablets were given to babies to make them sleep for a longer period, so as to enable the mothers to work in fields. This practice had a disadvantage, as it made the child slow-witted. If it is used in small amounts, it is medicine, but in large quantities it is as good as poison.
—Subhash Deokule, researcher (medicinal plants) & HOD, Department of Botany, UoP
Addiction to opium depends on how much quantity one uses
Poppy buds are mostly used in medicines, just the way alcohol is. It is true that opium taken in extra quantity has a very bad effect on the body. Mostly opium alkaloid is separated and used in medicinal preparations. In Ayurveda, the alkaloid is boiled in milk or cow urine before it is used. The Maharashtra government has banned cultivation of opium, but it is used in medicines under strict supervision.
In some states of northern India, opium cultivation is allowed, but only under strict government supervision. From the farmers’ perspective, opium cultivation to derive spices brings them good money, but it has a dark side to it. Addiction to opium depends upon how much quantity one uses and for what purposes.
—PH Kulkarni, ayurvedic consultant
Since khas khas fetches good money, farmers are taking to poppy farming
Opium farming is legal in certain parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. In these states, opium cultivation is strictly regulated by the government. Similarly, opium farming can be legalised in Maharashtra to derive spices such as khas khas. This will help the farmers earn profits in a legal manner.
Farming is no more a profitable occupation, and the situation is so bad that farmers cannot even recover input costs. Since khas khas fetches good money, farmers are gradually taking to poppy cultivation.
We are not asking the government to change the existing laws, but it should consider legalising opium farming under strict regulation and surveillance. In Sangli, the arrested farmers cultivated khas khas, and were not aware that poppy pods are used for deriving narcotics. Ignorance is not a crime, so we have decided to back the farmers.
—Raju Shetty, leader, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS)
Farmers can earn well, if its cultivation is legalised
There should not be any problem in legalising opium farming in Maharashtra since it is allowed in some parts of the country. Our demand is that opium farming be legalised in Maharashtra under the present framework of law and international conventions.
Will the government ban grape and cane cultivation just because wine and alcohol are derived from them? Even cereals are used to produce alcohol.
Farmers can earn good money, if opium farming is legalised just for deriving spices such as khas khas. The government should purchase the opium from farmers, and use it to manufacture medicine in factories across the state. This will be a good source of income for farmers.
— Sadabhau Khot, leader, SSS
Comments