Socio-political rift over opium
The cultivation of opium has divided the state of Rajasthan. The political and social workers in this desert region have been demanding a ban on the cultivation while politicians in the opium-growing belt oppose any such demand. The state had produced 337 metric tonne of opium this year while last year it yielded 211 metric tonne of opium.
According to the narcotics department, which regulates the opium cultivation in India, 27,300 farmers were given licenses to cultivate opium in seven districts of the state for the crop year while last year the number of cultivators was 17,000. “Opium has been sent to two public undertaking factories — Ghazeepur and Neemach — for final analysis, drying and processing,” says deputy commissioner, narcotics in Kota, J.P. Chandeliya. The area of cultivation has also been increased in comparison to last year. According to narcotics sources, the cultivated area in seven districts namely — Kota, Bhilwara, Jhalawar, Baraan, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Pratapgarh was 5,700 hectares while last year opium was cultivated in 3,595 hectare. The government issues licenses to cultivators with certain conditions and the authorities keep a vigil on opium cultivation.
“If any one violates the conditions, his license will be cancelled and he would be barred from cultivation,” says Mr Chandeliya. The authorities fixed an eligibility of tendering minimum qualifying yield per farmer and it was 56 kg/hectare in Rajasthan.
“We got average 60 kg/hectare yield this year, it is provisional data,” says Mr Chandeliya. The opium cultivation is prohibited under the rules. But India being a signatory of UN single convention of Narcotics Drug, 1961, is an eligible producer of opium. The political workers in opium-growing belt are seeking relaxation in the policy while social workers in the Thar desert region have been demanding a total ban.
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