Central Government's New Opium Policy 2025-26 - New Hopes and Opportunities for Farmers
Hello friends! If you are from areas like Neemuch, Mandsaur or Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh, where opium cultivation is a traditional business, then today's news is very special for you. The central government has announced the new Opium Policy for the year 2025-26, which is going to bring many positive changes for opium farmers. This policy not only seeks to increase the income of farmers, but also emphasizes on making opium production more scientific and efficient. Let us know in detail in this article what changes have been made in the new Opium Policy 2025-26, what are their benefits and how farmers can take advantage of them. If you are looking for information related to opium cultivation, opium license or CPS method, then this article is perfect for you.
Introduction to Opium Policy - Why is it important for India?
Opium, scientifically called Opium, is obtained from a plant called Papaver somniferum. India is the world's leading opium producer and is mainly used for the pharmaceutical industry. This opium is the raw material for painkillers like morphine. Opium cultivation is controlled under the Narcotics Department of the Central Government so that it is not misused. The Neemuch-Mandsaur-Ratlam region is the heartland of opium production in Madhya Pradesh, where thousands of farmers depend on this crop.
There have been many changes in opium policies in the past years. The CPS (Controlled Poppy Straw) method was promoted in the 2024-25 policy, but many farmers complained that it was not as easy as the traditional incision method. Now amendments have been made in the new Opium Policy of 2025-26 keeping these concerns in mind. This policy gives more flexibility to farmers and makes production targets realistic. According to government data, more than 50 thousand farmers got licenses in this sector in 2024-25, and this time too the number is expected to increase.
Key points of the new Opium Policy 2025-26 - understand in detail
The biggest change under the new policy is related to the CPS method. In the CPS method, farmers extract doda chura (poppy straw) from opium plants, in which mechanical process is used instead of lancing. According to the policy, in the CPS method, farmers giving more than 90 kg of doda chura on 10 saws (one saw is equivalent to about 0.01 hectare of land) will get the license of the incision method. The incision method is the traditional method, in which gum is extracted by making an incision on the plant, which is considered more profitable.
On the other hand, the license of farmers giving less than 80 kg of doda chura will be held this time. Note, last year in 2024-25, this limit was 68 kg, which has now been increased to 80 kg. This change is a sigh of relief for farmers, as earlier due to the strict limit, many farmers used to lose their licenses. Now more farmers will be able to remain in the CPS system and perform better next year.
There is also a significant change in license distribution. Earlier, a lease of 10 saws was given for the CPS system, but this time only 5 saws will be available. This means that farmers will have to show more productivity in a smaller area. This step has been taken to concentrate production and ensure better use of resources. In areas like Neemuch-Mandsaur-Ratlam where land is limited, this change will motivate farmers to do more efficient farming.
Eligibility criteria have also been clarified. In 2024-25, farmers will have to yield at least 4.2 kg of morphine per hectare. Apart from this, farmers who give 900 kg of straw per hectare and do complete ploughing between 2022-25 will be considered eligible for the license. Ploughing means that the farmer has prepared his land properly, so that the production is good. For the future, the morphine yield requirement has been made 5.9 kg per hectare in the 2026-27 policy. This gradually increasing target will encourage farmers to adopt better technology.
The government's objective behind these changes is to increase opium production, which is important for the global drug market. The Government of India aims to increase the export of morphine obtained from opium, thereby increasing the income of farmers.
Opium Cultivation Methods - CPS vs Chira – Which is Better?
There are two main methods of opium cultivation - CPS and Chira. The CPS method is modern, in which the plant is cut and doda chura is made. It is environmentally friendly as it uses less chemicals. But many farmers say that this gives less yield. In the Chira method, gum is extracted by making an incision on the plant, which gives more profit but is laborious.
By giving the opportunity of Chira method to those who perform well from CPS in the new Opium Policy 2025-26, the government is trying to balance both. For example, if a farmer gives 90 kg of doda chura at 10 aari, then he can shift to Chira method, where the price of gum per kg is higher. Payment is made after weighing at government weighing centers, which is transparent.
Farmers of Neemuch region say that the checking of morphine content in the CPS method is strict. If it is less than 4.2 kg per hectare, the license is affected. But in the new policy, farmers with hold license will get a chance to improve next year.
Impact on farmers - opportunities and challenges
This new opium policy has brought new possibilities for farmers. Earlier, many farmers used to lose licenses due to strict norms, but now about 10-15% more farmers will benefit from the increased limit of 80 kg. Many of the more than 50 thousand license holders will get the benefit of Chira method, which can increase their income by 20-30%.
Opium cultivation is the backbone of the economy in Neemuch-Mandsaur-Ratlam region. Farmers here not only depend on the local market but also supply to global pharmaceutical companies. The new policy will increase production, which will increase exports. But there are challenges too. Small leases (5 aari) may make land management difficult. Apart from this, farmers will need better seeds, fertilizers and irrigation to increase morphine yield.
Future vision - 2026-27 and beyond
The mandatory requirement of 5.9 kg morphine for 2026-27 will force farmers to adopt scientific farming. The government is running training programmes where experts teach soil testing and crop rotation. There is an emphasis on organic methods to make opium cultivation sustainable. If farmers give 90 kg of straw, they will get incentives.
This policy will not only give economic benefits but will also promote rural development. With the revenue obtained from opium, the government will strengthen the pharmaceutical industry, which has proved useful in epidemics like Covid.
0 Comments