Opium farmers likely to fetch more prices after ban on import

NEEMUCH (MP): Around 50,000 opium producing farmers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are looking to get more prices for white poppy seeds following a ban imposed by Allahabad High Court through an interim order on its import from Turkey and other countries.

The President of Neemuch Businessmen's Union, Rakesh Bhardwaj told PTI that India had the biggest Mandi for white poppy seeds in the whole world.

He said that 5133 quintals of white poppy seeds had been brought for sale in the Neemuch Mandi in 2011-12 and this quantity had risen to 16,426 quintals in 2012-13.

The in-charge of BJP's Kisan Morcha, Virendra Patidar demanded that a total ban should be imposed on the import of white poppy seeds into the country.

Patidar said that farmers should learn to store white poppy seeds as they fetch more money when sold after some time.