Opium poppy licensing policy for 2025-26: about 1.21 lakh farmers eligible
The Finance Ministry announced the annual licensing policy for opium poppy cultivation for crop year 2025-26 on 12 September 2025, making about 1.21 lakh farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh eligible.
Summary
The Union Government announced the annual licensing policy for opium poppy cultivation for crop year 2025-26 (1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026) on 12 September 2025, covering farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. About 1.21 lakh farmers are estimated to be eligible for licences, a 23.5% increase over licences issued in the previous crop year, bringing about 15,000 additional farmers into the fold. Existing opium gum cultivators with an average morphine yield of 4.2 kg per hectare or more will be retained. Those with morphine yields between 3.0 kg and 4.2 kg per hectare become eligible to cultivate unlanced poppy straw under the Concentrate of Poppy Straw (CPS) method, with a five-year licence. The government said it continues to ensure an adequate supply of alkaloids for medical and palliative care needs.
Key facts
- Crop year
- 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Sep 2026
- States
- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
- Eligible farmers
- ~1.21 lakh (+23.5%; ~15,000 more)
- Opium gum retention
- Morphine yield 4.2 kg/ha or above
- CPS method
- Morphine yield 3.0–4.2 kg/ha; unlanced poppy straw; 5-year licence
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The annual licensing policy for opium poppy cultivation for crop year 2025-26 covers farmers in which three states?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
The policy announced on 12 September 2025 covers farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, with about 1.21 lakh farmers estimated to be eligible.
Under the opium licensing policy for 2025-26, cultivators with an average morphine yield between 3.0 and 4.2 kg per hectare become eligible for which method of cultivation?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Concentrate of Poppy Straw (CPS) method with unlanced poppy straw
Cultivators with morphine yields between 3.0 and 4.2 kg per hectare can cultivate unlanced poppy straw under the Concentrate of Poppy Straw (CPS) method, with a five-year licence; those at 4.2 kg or above are retained as opium gum cultivators.