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Union Home Ministry is considering a concept note on pilot project for alternative crop development in 10 States affected by illicit poppy cultivation as part of its ongoing efforts at curbing the menace. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has destroyed 14,365.17 acres of illicit poppy during the last one year cultivated in States like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur.
The Centre has urged the affected States to evolve efficacious and sustained alternative development strategies in areas with illicit cultivation of poppy.
Following a decision of the Union Home Ministry, the NCB had funded a research project on alternative crop development. The NCB in consultation with Prof MS Swaminathan, Chairman, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai is working on a project for alternative crop development involving alternative cash crop besides other crops.
The concept note on the pilot project for launching “alternative development programme” drawn up by MSSRF, Chennai, along with the budgetary requirement is under consideration of Union Home Ministry, an official said.
On September 13 last year, the NCB held a meeting with Nodal Officers of the States affected by illegal cultivation of poppy and other sister agencies and discussed the Time Frame Action Plan for identification and destruction of poppy. The meeting finalised a plan for destruction of crop for the year 2010-11.
Based on the actions taken in accordance with the Action Plan, illicit poppy cultivation covering an area of 14,365.17 acres was destroyed till June 21 this year.
The agencies suspect that there is a nexus between existing drug trafficking syndicates and terrorist/extremist networks. Inputs suggest a large part of the funding of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) comes from poppy cultivation and the revenue generated helps in militarisation of its armed wing, the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army.
Coverage of significant swathe of land for illicit poppy cultivation engages several marginal farmers who prefer the crop due to its ability to generate income in cash. An alternative cash crop development programme alone can win such farmers away from the illegal farming of poppy
The Centre has urged the affected States to evolve efficacious and sustained alternative development strategies in areas with illicit cultivation of poppy.
Following a decision of the Union Home Ministry, the NCB had funded a research project on alternative crop development. The NCB in consultation with Prof MS Swaminathan, Chairman, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai is working on a project for alternative crop development involving alternative cash crop besides other crops.
The concept note on the pilot project for launching “alternative development programme” drawn up by MSSRF, Chennai, along with the budgetary requirement is under consideration of Union Home Ministry, an official said.
On September 13 last year, the NCB held a meeting with Nodal Officers of the States affected by illegal cultivation of poppy and other sister agencies and discussed the Time Frame Action Plan for identification and destruction of poppy. The meeting finalised a plan for destruction of crop for the year 2010-11.
Based on the actions taken in accordance with the Action Plan, illicit poppy cultivation covering an area of 14,365.17 acres was destroyed till June 21 this year.
The agencies suspect that there is a nexus between existing drug trafficking syndicates and terrorist/extremist networks. Inputs suggest a large part of the funding of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) comes from poppy cultivation and the revenue generated helps in militarisation of its armed wing, the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army.
Coverage of significant swathe of land for illicit poppy cultivation engages several marginal farmers who prefer the crop due to its ability to generate income in cash. An alternative cash crop development programme alone can win such farmers away from the illegal farming of poppy
