Opium Farmers Disappointed as Government Policy Fails to Raise Prices

Indian opium farmers are expressing disappointment after the release of the new opium policy for 2026-27. The policy, announced by the central government, does not include the price increase that farmers had been demanding. Instead, the new policy has introduced stricter regulations on opium production. The average production limit for opium poppy fields, known as 'chiara' patches, has been set at 4.4 kilograms per hectare. This move is likely to impact farmers' income and has sparked concerns about the future of the opium industry in India.