New Policy Pushes Up Opium Yield To 1,240 Tonnes

The government has collected 1,341 tonnes of opium in April this year as against the anticipated yield of 1,240 tonnes. The higher yield is being attributed to the new opium policy announced by the government in October 1996 which pushed up the average yield per hectare from 48 kg in the previous year to 54 kg this year.

The increase in yield comes at a time when the government is under pressure from the international community and the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board for a low yield. The governments new opium policy, which is based on greater attention to opium cultivators, has also come in for criticism.

 

The yield of poppy in the country has international ramifications since India is the only country which allows farmers to grow poppy legally in some states for its use as derivatives in the manufacture of morphine and codeine.

The average opium yield in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (the three main growers of opium) too has exceeded the previous years corresponding yields by 7 kg, 6 kg and 21 kg per hectare respectively. Though the number of opium growers was fewer in 1996-97 as compared to the previous year, the collection of opium was much higher.The government also unearthed nearly 10 tonnes of opium through preliminary weightage of produce of 35,000 cultivators (out of the 75,000 cultivators) before the regular weightage and procurement of opium began. As a result of the intensification of the enforcement machinery more than 500 tonnes of illicit opium was recovered during January-April alone.