Chittorgarh : More than 20 thousand opium farmers of Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan are waiting for the Opium Crop Policy 2024-25 to be issued by the Central Government. Despite the announcement of the opium crop policy starting in the last week of October, it has not been announced. Also, if the opium crop policy is issued late, its effect may be visible in opium production also. The central government releases the opium crop policy in the month of September, but this time there is a delay.
Farmers angry over delay in opium policy
Due to the delay in announcing the opium policy, the anger of the farmers is increasing. In this regard, the farmers say that delaying the opium policy is not part of a conspiracy, because if the lease is delayed, the farmer will not be able to pay the average and his license will be cancelled. Here, farmers have raised the demand for early declaration of opium policy and letters have also been written to the Finance Minister, Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition regarding this.
MLA wrote a letter to the Finance Minister
Regarding the Opium Crop Policy 2024-25, Nimbahera MLA Shrichand Kripalani has written a letter to the Union Finance Minister demanding immediate release of the Opium Crop Policy. Meanwhile, former Cooperative Minister Uday Lal Anjana has also written a letter to the Finance Minister demanding issuance of opium policy.
Sowing permission is given after the policy
Opium farmers said that after the release of the opium crop policy, farmers will be able to sow the opium crop. After the policy is issued, opium farmers are given permission to sow opium by the department after completing the paperwork. Opium crop is cultivated on a large scale in Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh districts and Neemuch and Mandsaur districts of MP. Opium farmers told that 70 to 80 thousand opium farmers cultivate opium in these areas.
Demand raised for opium insurance
Explaining their demands, the opium farmers said that the expensive opium crop should also be insured so that the farmers can get compensation. He said that there should be a provision of compensation of Rs 25 thousand for every 10 saws to the farmers in case of loss due to calamities like natural disaster, black mass, fog, frost, hailstorm, Dholi massi, unseasonal rain etc.
Dodachura should be removed from NDPS Act.
Farmers have talked about stopping farming like CPS and also taking Dodachura out of the NDPS Act. They say that Dodachura contains only 0.2 percent morphine, whereas the drug contains 5 to 10 mg of the drug. Farmers said that Dodachura can be used as waste material after enduring the harsh sunlight and weather. If someone sells, a case of NDPS is filed against him. Therefore, farmers say that either the government should start buying it or Dodachura should be excluded from the NDPS Act.
