By IANS
Lucknow : What was once considered a lucrative cash crop, opium cultivation has become a losing proposition in Uttar Pradesh.
Many opium growers, concentrated in parts of Barabanki, Shahjahanpur and Barielly districts, have switched over from opium to other crops.
While Lucknow-based Deputy Narcotics Commissioner Ashok Kumar declined to comment on the issue, official records show a steady fall in opium cultivation and production in the state.
Cultivation of opium is controlled by the narcotics department, which not only issues licences but also allocates area for the crop’s cultivation, besides monitoring its production.
During the current financial year (2007-08), a large number of farmers decided to surrender their licences for opium cultivation. For instance, in Barabanki district, out of the 274 licensed farmers, only 33 cultivated poppy this season.
“Far from any incentive, opium cultivation is a burden,” remarked Ram Saran, who gave up opium cultivation after decades of involvement.
A resident of Satrikh village – known for intensive opium cultivation – in Barabanki district about 30 km from here, Ram Saran told IANS: “It is so much more convenient, hassle-free and also lucrative to be growing any other crop instead.”
Like Ram Saran, his neighbour Nankau Ram has also switched over from opium to potato cultivation.
“Opium requires more inputs and yields low profit, while potato gives you much more return with lesser investment,” he said.
Citing an example, he said: “While an investment of Rs.20,000 to Rs.25,000 in an opium crop fetches a return of just about Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 , similar input on potato fetches more than double the amount.”
Yet another farmer, Sukhram Singh, said: “Apart from the higher margin that is available in mint crop, it is also the freedom that one enjoys in not being associated with opium that persuaded me to give up opium cultivation.”
He said: “Growing poppy (opium) is a constant source of tension as you are not only under the scanner of the narcotics department but also under the prying eyes of smugglers who are out to intimidate and blackmail you.”
Officially grown opium goes exclusively to government-controlled manufacturing units, from where it is procured by the pharmaceutical industry.
However, contraband opium finds its way into the smuggling market as it is the raw material for heroin, which fetches astronomical profits in the international market.