Opium Poppy Cultivation

Opium Poppy Cultivation

Subject: Agriculture

Section: Crops

Context- Taliban order ban on poppy cultivation.

Concept-

• The Taliban announced on Sunday a ban on the cultivation of narcotics in Afghanistan, the world’s biggest opium producer.
• The cultivation of poppy has been strictly prohibited across the country.
• Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• Its opium harvest accounts for more than 80% of the world’s supply.
• In 2018 the UNODC estimated opium production contributed up to 11% of the country’s economy.

Opium Poppy:

• Opium poppy (Papaver somniferous) plant is the source of opium gum which contains several indispensable alkaloids such as morphine, codeine and thebaine.
• Morphine is the best analgesic in the world. In case of extreme and excruciating pain such as that of terminally ill cancer patients, nothing alleviates the suffering except morphine. Codeine is commonly used in manufacture of cough syrups.

Uses:

• Opium is unique in its therapeutic value and is indispensable in the medical world.
• It also finds use in Homeopathy and Ayurveda or Unani systems of indigenous medicines.
• The opium which is used as Analgesics, Anti-Tussive, Anti spasmodic and as a source of edible seed-oil, acts as a medicinal herb.

Opium Cultivation In India:

• After independence, the control over cultivation and manufacture of opium became responsibility of the Central Government with effect from April, 1950.
• At present the Narcotics Commissioner along with the subordinates exercises all powers and performs all functions relating to superintendence of the cultivation of the opium poppy and production of opium.
• The Commissioner derives this power from the Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Act 1985 and Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1985.
• License for manufacture of certain types of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as well as permits for export and import of narcotic drugs, psychotropic and controlled substances are issued with the approval and permission of the Narcotics Commissioner.
• The Government of India announces the licensing policy for cultivation of opium poppy every year, prescribing the minimum qualifying yield for issue of or renewal of licence, maximum area that can be cultivated by an individual cultivator, the maximum benefit that can be allowed to a cultivator for damage due to natural causes, etc.
• The opium poppy can be cultivated only in such tracts as are notified by the Government.
• At present these tracts are confined to three States, viz. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh and Chittorgarh and Jhalawar Districts of Rajasthan constitute about 80% of the total area cultivated.
• India is one of the few countries internationally permitted (by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ) to cultivate opium poppy for export.