Rajasthan Opium Crop: Sacred Fields Where Farmers Remove Shoes Before Entering, and Other Interesting Facts

In Rajasthan, farmers meticulously nurture their opium crop. After sowing, they never enter the field wearing chappals or shoes. Once the crop is ready, a statue of Maa Kalika is installed, and only after worshipping her is the opium pods are incised. Learn about this and many other interesting facts.

Rajasthan Opium Crop: In the Sunel region of Jhalawar, the scoring of opium pods has begun, with the installation of a statue of Maa Kalika in the fields. The care farmers take in nurturing the opium crop can be gauged by the fact that after sowing, they never enter the field wearing footwear.

In the Sunel and surrounding areas, farmers commenced the 'luwai-chirai' (harvesting and scoring) of the opium crop, referred to as 'black gold', which has reached maturity. This was done after performing religious rituals and worshipping Maa Kalika during an auspicious time. Farmers believe that praying to Maa Kalika for a good yield and prosperity, and then scoring the pods, is a tradition locally known as 'Naana'.

Farmers bring puja materials from their homes to the fields. They then establish the deity's idol on a raised platform in the plot, tie a sacred thread, light a ghee-oil lamp, offer incense sticks, and present a coconut. Following this, they tie a coloured thread around five plants, score the pods, and pray for a bountiful harvest. The farmers are eagerly awaiting the fifth instalment of the Mukhyamantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, with 74 lakh farmers in Rajasthan anticipating the release.

Tradition of Worship is Long-Standing

Farmers from Semla village, including Mohanlal Meghwal, Babulal Meghwal, Harinarayan Sharma, Ramkaran Meghwal, and Mahavir Prasad Meghwal, stated that the tradition of worshipping the mother goddess before 'Naana' has been ongoing for a long time. The scoring of the pods is done during the day using a special tool called 'Nakka'. The following morning, after the puja, the opium latex is collected using scrapers. After the 'luwai-chirai', poppy seeds are extracted from the dried pods.

Focus on Poppy Husk

Although there is a provision to destroy the poppy husk in the fields, it is still smuggled. Smugglers' activities increase in the border areas of Madhya Pradesh and the Sunel region as soon as opium is sown. Opium cultivation is monitored by the Central Bureau of Narcotics, but the risk of illegal activities escalates once the pods are scored. The government has rights over the opium cultivated in the fields.

Weight Increased by Adulteration

Cases have also emerged where the weight of pure opium is increased by mixing it with other powders. For instance, powders like coffee or Bournvita are added to half a kilogram of pure opium, increasing its weight to two and a half to three kilograms.

Farmers Camp in Fields Until Harvesting

During the harvesting period, farmers build huts in their fields and reside there, guarding the crop day and night. Their daily routine changes once the scoring of the pods begins. In most parts of the region, the scoring process has already commenced.