The Ministry of Finance on 28th September 2022, notifies the general conditions for grant of license specified below for cultivation of opium poppy for production of Poppy Straw from which no juice is extracted through lancing on account of the Central Government during the Opium Crop Year Commencing on the 1st day of October, 2022 and ending with the 30th day of September, 2023.
Opium poppy cultivation may be licensed in any tract as may be notified in this behalf by the Central Government. The following shall be eligible for a license to cultivate opium poppy for production of Poppy Straw from which no juice is extracted through lancing:
- Cultivators who had cultivated opium poppy for production of Poppy Straw from which no juice is extracted through lancing during the crop year 2021-22 and tendered poppy straw at weighment centre.
- Cultivators who have tendered an average yield of Morphine (MQY-M) 3.0 kg per hectare and above but less than 4.2 kg per hectare in crop year 2021-22.
- Cultivators who are eligible for license under opium poppy cultivation for obtaining opium gum after lancing, if they opt voluntarily to cultivate opium poppy for production of Poppy Straw from which no juice is extracted through lancing.
- Cultivators who ploughed back their entire poppy crop cultivated during the crop year 2021-22 under the supervision of the Central Bureau of Narcotics in accordance with the provisions in this regard.
- Cultivators who were de-licensed during crop year 1999-2000 to 2021-22 on the grounds of tendering inferior opium but their morphine content was found more than 6% in the test results of the Government Opium Alkaloid Works at Neemuch or Ghazipur.
All eligible cultivators will be issued license of 0.10 Hectares each. Cultivators can sow opium poppy in not more than two plots and they will be permitted to take on lease, land belonging to others, to make up the licensed area, if they so desire.
License to cultivate opium poppy for production of Poppy Straw from which no juice is extracted through lancing will be issued for five crop years from the issuance i.e. license issued to cultivators for crop year 2022-23 will remain effective till crop year 2027-28.
