Annual Licensing Policy for Opium Poppy Cultivation

On 12th September 2025, the Union Government announced the annual licensing policy for the cultivation of opium poppy in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh for the crop year 2025–26 (October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026).

Key Points

Farmer Inclusion: Nearly 1.21 lakh farmers are eligible for licenses, marking a 23.5% increase compared to last year, with 15,000 additional farmers brought into the fold.
Medical Needs: The policy ensures adequate alkaloid supply for medical and palliative care, while also expanding indigenous processing capacity for essential narcotic drugs.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Retention of gum cultivators achieving an average morphine yield (MQY-M) of 4.2 kg/hectare or above.
- Farmers with yields between 3.0–4.2 kg/hectare are now eligible for Concentrate of Poppy Straw (CPS) cultivation, with a five-year license validity.
Digitization & Inclusivity: Historical digitization of cultivator data (since 1995–96) allows marginal farmers from previous years to regain eligibility under relaxed criteria.
Incentives: High-performing CPS farmers achieving 900 kg/hectare or more of unlanced poppy straw can switch to traditional gum cultivation, promoting higher yields and reducing diversion risks.