A heady harvest

The farmers of Neemuch and Mandsaur are the largest licensed producers of opium in the country. But lured by big money offered by drug syndicates, several among them are crossing the thin line that separates the legal cultivation of opium from the world of drug-trafficking. Many have graduated from being small-time farmers to big-time traffickers, and the production of brown sugar and heroin has assumed the dimensions of a cottage industry.

Last year, 88 persons were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act NDPS charges in 42 and 21 cases of opium and brown sugar, respectively. And between January and March this year, 32 persons were arrested and 80 kg of opium seized.

What8217;s disturbing is that increasingly, brown sugar is part of the haul. Manufactured from opium, brown sugar and heroin command a premium in the global drug bazaar. Nearly six kg of brown sugar has been seized so far this year. Recently the police raided a house in Mavta village, bordering Rajasthan, and seized brown sugar 320 gm, opium 6.5 kg and chemicals amounting to Rs 40 lakh.

Increasingly, farmers are abandoning their traditional crops for the profit potential in cultivating opium. How do they beat the strict controls that are supposedly in place to prevent smuggling? After all, the average production limit is supposed to be set off after a detailed study of the demand-supply position by the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB. This is where the The portion earmarked for sale to the government is separated from the excess, which is then sold to the smugglers. This excess opium is turned into brown sugar and other byproducts in small industries and ferried further on to the drug hub of Mumbai by carriers.

This year, according to MS Negi, Deputy Commissioner, NCB, the farmers have produced a record 55 gm per hectare of opium and were paid nearly Rs 48 crore for a total production of 627 tonnes. A total of 59,644 farmers in 1,691 villages of Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Jhabua, Shajapur, Rajgarh and Ujjain districts were given licences to produce opium on 12,632 hectares of land.

Reveals a farmer, on the condition of anonymity, 8220;The total production is much more than the official figures because we get five times more money than the government rates from the bhais. Who would forgo more money?8221;Rivalries have also erupted between farming communities on who gets the bigger chunk of the drug money. Ghanshyam, a farmer, complains of foul play by another farmer on last year8217;s produce. 8220;After getting the licence, we are asked to supply the average production to government centres. For this we have to hire our own vehicles. My rival hired kanjars to loot my opium, thus ensuring the cancellation of my licence for the coming year on the basis of no or less production.8221; Such looted opium also finds its way to the druglords.

Local residents claim that such cases are rising. It is difficult to hire vehicles in this region, for vehicle owners fear that it might be used to carry illegal opium or brown sugar, and the added fear of damage of the vehicle being waylaid for its contents.

To worsen matters, the Madhya Pradesh Narcotics Bureau does not have the powers to conduct raids, and has to depend on information provided by the police. 8220;We have recently sent a requisition that we should be given powers to conduct raids. We are also conducting special training for about 1,700 officers of the police,8221; said ASP MP Narcotics Bureau, B L Tripathi. 8220;The bureau is planning to set up rehabilitation centres as well as awareness programmes in schools8221;.

A report prepared last year by former Mandsaur district collector Shailendra Singh had suggested that the NDPS Act be amended to prevent its misuse. In his five-page report, the collector had expressed concern over the growing attraction of youth towards drug-trafficking. It was also suggested that an enquiry be set up to seek amendments in the Act and change its implementation. The report was sent to the Union Home and Union Social Welfare Ministries, but it is reportedly gathering dust there. Till then, the farmers of Neemuch and Mandsaur will continue to reap a heady, dangerous harvest.