India, Sept. 12 -- The Union Government today announced the annual licensing policy for crop year 2025-26 during the Opium Crop Year from 1stOctober, 2025 to 30thSeptember, 2026, of license for cultivation of opium poppy, for the farmers in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
As per the general conditions enshrined in the policy, nearly 1.21 lakh farmers are estimated to be eligible for the grant of licenses for opium cultivation in these states. This represents a23.5% increaseover the number of licenses actually issued in the previous crop year. The policy thus brings approximately15,000 additional farmersinto the fold, who are expected to benefit from opium cultivation this year.
The Central Government continues to...