Question : Opium Cultivation

(a) whether the Government has assessed the loss of opium crops due to natural calamity in various States including Bhilwara district in Rajasthan;

(b) whether the Government has proposed a scheme to renew the lease for cultivation of opium to the farmers who could not supply the crops due to hailstorms, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the production of opium khas khas is far less than the demand resulting in import and smuggling of opium in the country, if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard;

(d) whether the Government proposes to amend the guidelines for opium cultivation to bring more areas and increase the quota of licences issued to farmers to increase opium production; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(SHRI JAYANT SINHA)

(a) The Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substance Rules, 1985 and the General conditions for grant of opium cultivation license notified every year there under do not provide for assessment of damage to opium crops due to inclement weather conditions. As such, no survey has been carried out by the central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), which exercises control over licit opium poppy cultivation in the country, to assess the damage to poppy crops due to inclement weather conditions, in various States including Bhilwara District of Rajasthan.


(b) No Madam, General Conditions of licensing for cultivation of opium for the crop year 2015-16 has already been notified vide Notification No. G.S.R. 757(E) dated 05th October, 2015 and amended vide Notification No. G.S.R. 904(E) dated 26th November, 2015.

(c) Licit cultivation of opium poppy is carried out in designated tracts every year considering the total requirement of opium for domestic use in scientific and medical purposes and exports. Poppy Seeds or Khas Khas is only a by-product of such cultivation. To meet the demand supply gap of poppy seed requirement of the country, import is permitted from countries having licit cultivation of opium poppy. In so far, as smuggling of opium in the country is concerned, it is a punishable offence under Narcotics Drugs & Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985.

(d) & (e) General conditions for issuance of Opium Poppy cultivation licence during the crop year 2015-16 has already been notified in Gazette of India vide Notification No G.S.R 757(E) dated 05th October 2015 and amended vide Notification No G.S.R 904(E) dated 26th November 2015.