The traditional opium farms of the Mewar region, straddling Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, are facing a policy upheaval. In 2021 the Union government opened the processing of CPS to private players. Farmers like Sunder Bai and her son Anil fear loss of livelihood, reduced prices and security risks.
Key Developments (2021‑2026)
- 2021: Union government amends opium policy to permit private production of CPS (press release, 14 Sept).
- 2022‑2023: First two crop seasons under the new system; farmers report lower seed yields and stagnant procurement price of Opium gum (₹1,200‑2,000 /kg).
- 2024: Farmers’ coalitions (All India Kisan Sabha, Bharatiya Afeem Kisan Sangharsh Samiti) form Samyukt Afeem Kisan Morcha and submit memorandum to Prime Minister.
- 2025: Reports of reduced procurement of poppy petals and pods; CPS price fixed at ₹200 /kg, far below seed revenue (≈₹1,000 /kg).
- 2026: Ongoing protests; demands for more public‑sector processing units under PPP model are rejected by farmer groups.
Important Facts
About 1 lakh licensed opium farmers operate in 22 districts of MP, Rajasthan and UP, with 80 % of India’s opium coming from Mandsaur, Neemuch and Chittorgarh. Each 10 ares (≈100 m²) of land costs ~₹1 lakh to cultivate and yields 1‑1.5 quintals of poppy seeds (₹1,000 /kg). Under CPS, seed output falls to ~80 kg per 10 ares, cutting farmer income sharply.
The Central Bureau of Narcotics purchases opium gum and forwards it to the Government Opium Alkaloid Works, Neemuch (est. 1935). The factory employs only ~200 staff against a sanctioned strength of 500, raising concerns of under‑utilisation.
Exam Relevance
This issue touches multiple GS papers: GS‑2 (Polity) – federal‑state coordination in drug control, licensing, and farmer protests; GS‑3 (Economy) – impact of policy change on agrarian incomes, market dynamics, and public‑private partnerships; GS‑4 (Ethics) – balancing farmer welfare with national security and public health; and GS‑1 (History) – legacy of colonial opium trade influencing contemporary debates.
Way Forward
Stakeholders suggest a three‑pronged approach: (1) consultation with farmer unions before any further policy shift; (2) price revision for both opium gum and poppy seeds to reflect input cost inflation; (3) expansion of PPP units only after robust security audits, while retaining a strong public‑sector processing capacity to safeguard national security and ensure affordable medicines.