Lok Sabha Question No. 2078 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-29
Subject: Production of Opium Seeds
Ministry: FINANCE
Asked by: KUNWAR SARVESH  KUMAR

(a) & (b)

| SNo   | Financial Year   |   Quantity (in Metric tons) | Country        |   Invoice Value (in USD currency |
|-------|------------------|-----------------------------|----------------|----------------------------------|
|       | 2013-14          |                     578.277 | China          |                          1731093 |
| 3     | 2013-14          |                   14230.1   | Turkey         |                         51427400 |
|       | 2013-14          |                     174     | Czech Republic |                           757502 |
|       | 2014-15          |                    1801     | China          |                          5918620 |
|       | 2014-15          |                   10035     | Turkey         |                         32702461 |
|       | 2014-15          |                     152     | Czech Republic |                           514602 |
|       | 2015-16          |                    2363     | China          |                          5913875 |
| 8     | 2015-16          |                    7056     | Turkey         |                         21889372 |
| 9     | 2015-16          |                     311.4   | Czech Republic |                           777660 |

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2078

## TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 29th JULY, 2016 Shravana 7, 1938 (Saka)

## PRQDUCTION QE QPIUM SEEDS

## 2078. SHRI KUNWAR SARVESH KUMAR:

Will the Minister of FINANCE be please to state:

- (a) the details of import of opium seeds and related products for the last  three years country-wise;
- (c) whether the Government allows our farmers to  cultivate opium with framework and to prevent any illegal diversion in the market; and
- (b) the details of foreign exchange amount spent for this import;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not; the reasons therefore?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

;~

~

Government allows farmers to cultivate opium with proper legal framework as per the Yes, provisions under NDPS Actl Rules.

The control over cultivation of opium poppy is exercised by way of licensing of cultivators of opium poppy in notified tracts (as notified by the Central Government from time to time) as per General Conditions of licensing policy announced by Central Government every year; 1o0% measurement of poppy fields (to check area actually sown) is carried out by the officers of Central Bureau of Narcotics   followed by test measurements by supervisory   officers. After cultivators start collecting opium from plants, Jurisdictional officers   carry out Preliminary Weighment on test check basis. Once entire opium is collected by farmers, its collection and purchase is done at Weighment Centers set up for the purpose. During the entire lancing period, the preventive staff is on full alert with deployment of executive staff for checks on strategic and vulnerable routes, to prevent the diversion of opium produce from the fields to the illicit channels. Further system of Minimum Qualifying Yield (MQY) is in place to ensure that cultivator does not divert opium to illegal channel. If any cultivator is found to be indulging in diversion of opium, then appropriate action is taken against the offenders under the NDPS Act, 1985 apart from cancellation of his licence for opium cultivation put