Opium farmers seek more licences, Rs 1 lakh per kg price

Opium farmers from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have urged the Union government to increase the number of licences and raise the procurement price of opium gum to Rs 1 lakh per kg ahead of the opium licensing policy for 2026-27, expected in September. As per the 2025-26 policy, nearly 1.21 lakh farmers are estimated to be eligible for licences, a 23.5% increase over the previous year.

At a protest in Delhi under the banner of Bharatiya Afeem Kisan Sangharsh Samiti, farmers demanded that cancelled leases since 1990 be reinstated and that poppy straws be removed from the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. They also opposed the government-promoted Concentrate of Poppy Straw method for opium harvest, introduced in 2021-22, which they said threatens their livelihood. The farmers called for its abolition and a return to traditional gum production.

The government, in a September 2025 press release, said it continues to ensure adequate alkaloid supply for medical needs and is expanding processing capacity through indigenous measures. The Hindu reports that the shift to CPS was intended to align India with global practices and boost exports, but farmers worry it will reduce profits and increase drug abuse risks.