Question : REGULARISATION OF CULTIVATION OF POPPY AND CANNABIS

(a) whether certain State Governments have requested the Union Government for the regularisation of cultivation of poppy and cannabis so as to check the illegal cultivation of these crops;

(b) if so, the names of the State Governments and the action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Government of Himachal Pradesh has also finalized a draft proposal for obtaining the financial assistance under the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) for the cultivation of medicinal plants alongwith poppy and cannabis; and

(d) if so, the reaction of the Union Government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)

(a)&(b): Yes, Sir. Requests were received from time to time from some of the State Governments for permissions for cultivation of opium poppy/industrial hemp. However, formal proposals for cultivation of opium poppy was received from the Government of Himachal Pradesh and for cultivation of industrial hemp from the Government of Uttranchal. On the question of cultivation of opium poppy it may be stated that, as a signatory to the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and as a licit cultivator of opium, India is required to adhere to the regulations under the said Convention. The cultivation of opium is, therefore, restricted to notified tracts in the three States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Further, existing stock of opium, is far in excess of the domestic and export requirement of opium. With regard to the proposals for cultivation of industrial hemp, as per the present policy, no such permission has been granted.

(c)&(d): No such proposal has been received by the Government.