Farmers troubled by drug addict parrots, steal opium fruits from the fields

Most of the opium cultivation in the world (about 85 percent) takes place in Afghanistan. If we talk about India, opium is cultivated in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In Madhya Pradesh, opium is cultivated in three districts – Ratlam, Neemuch and Mandsaur. This black gold is cultivated in Mandsaur district. But the opium farmers here face a big challenge, first of all, to save the opium cultivation from the ravages of the weather, on top of that, the farmers have to suffer huge losses due to the parrots that eat opium. To protect them from opium parrots, farmers have to build boundary walls and put nets around their fields.

Opium parrots are destroying crops

These parrots, fond of eating opium, are so vicious that they keep hovering over opium from morning till evening. As soon as they get a chance, they quickly pluck the opium, hold it in their beaks, fly away and keep eating the opium with great pleasure. For opium farmers, every drop of opium is very valuable. In such a situation, farmers are facing huge losses due to these opium-loving parrots. These parrots are so clever and have become so expert in stealing opium that as soon as the farmer looks at them, they show off their beaks. At least about 20 to 25 grams of opium comes out in one packet of opium. In such a situation, these drug addict parrots steal opium 30 to 40 times a day, causing huge loss to the farmers.

All efforts fail in front of drug addict parrots

The history of these opium-loving parrots dates back to the time of opium cultivation, which has been passed down from generation to generation. To deal with these parrots, the farmer and his family guard the fields all day long, set up nets, burst firecrackers, make noises, but despite all these efforts, these parrots succeed in stealing opium with great cunning.

Opium farmers told about their problems

Farmer Vinod Patidar says that a net has been installed around the field to protect it from parrots. Parrots like to eat poppy seeds after chilli. Parrots do a lot of harm. The opium crop is sown around Diwali and after that the work of opium extraction continues till March. Having a license for opium brings respect in the village. In the village he is considered a rich person and relationships also develop quickly.

Another farmer Kamal Kumar Patidar said that opium cultivation is a very risky job. Earlier there was no need to demarcate the field, but now it costs Rs 50,000. A boundary net has to be placed around the field. If you have not installed a net, then whether you have a CPS license or have any disease, it becomes difficult if even 5 doda goes missing from the field. The authorities have strict rules. What are the rules of the farmer? We will say that the parrots ate. The entire risk is ours.

54 thousand licenses given for opium cultivation

Actually, the cultivation of opium, called black gold, is in its full youth. The Narcotics Department has given 54 thousand licenses for opium cultivation this year. Since the introduction of CPS system in Mandsaur-Neemuch district, this area of Mandsaur district is called the stronghold of black gold, the number of opium lessees (farmers) is continuously increasing. The number of leases has been increasing significantly for the last three years. This year, including Mandsaur and Neemuch districts along with Javra region, there are about 54 thousand regular and tenant farmers who are cultivating opium. In such a situation, it is believed that this time the production of opium will also increase and the area has also increased.

Narcotics department has complete control

In such a situation, these 54 thousand opium cultivators have made the fields their home for the safety of flowers and pods on the opium as well as security. These days the opium crop has ripened in Mandsaur area, from which the work of extracting opium is going on. In Mandsaur region, licenses are given to farmers to cultivate opium by the Central Government. Farmers look after opium cultivation like a child. The liquid coming out of opium pods, which contains morphine, has to be deposited in the Narcotics Department. There are very strict rules and instructions for opium cultivation. These are under the supervision of Narcotics Department.

Drugs are made from life saving medicines

Life-saving medicines are made from morphine extracted from opium. If a common man goes to its fields, he can become intoxicated just by its smell. People misuse opium as an intoxicant. Because apart from opium, poppy seeds also come out from the opium pod (fruit). Also, the peel of the bean which also contains intoxicating substance, is melted and water is extracted. It also contains intoxicants, which are consumed by truck drivers on the highway to get intoxicated. Therefore, in many cases of opium smuggling in the district, thousands of smugglers are lodged in many jails of the country under the NDPS Act and are serving their sentences. Smugglers misuse it to make many poisonous substances (drugs).